What is World Pizza Day?

On January 17th, Italians celebrate World Pizza Day, ”La Giornata Mondiale della Pizza”.

The day was chosen because it’s the same day Sant’Antonio Abate is celebrated, the saint protector of all bakers and pizza makers (”pizzaioli” in Italian). In the past families who owned pizza restaurants and bakers, used to shut their businesses for the day and get together to light a big fire to celebrate the saint.

Nowadays, businesses work even harder to produce as much pizza as possible and to create various fun events for all people who decide to go out to celebrate eating pizza. Of course, things are a little different now with the pandemic with all restaurants having to close at 6pm.

La Giornata Mondiale della Pizza was established in 2017, when the art of pizza making became part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Crazy isn’t it? Pizza making is an actual art and it takes years of practice to make the perfect pizza.

A Little Bit of History

The invention of the pizza as we know it, has be associated with Raffaele Esposito. He was a Neapolitan chef, owner of the famous restaurant ”Pizzeria di Pietro e Basta Così‘.

In 1889 he dedicated a pizza to Margherita di Savoia, the Queen of the KIngdom on Naples and wife of Umberto I.

Yes, it was a pizza Margherita in case you were wondering, which actually took its name from the Queen.

With this pizza, he wanted to honour the Queen and Italy’s colours: the basil for the green, the mozzarella for the white and the tomato sauce for the red.

The pizza phenomenon remained in Naples area up until the first years of the 1900s. It was during this time that the first pizzerie were born.

What are the most famous Italian Pizzas?

Since the first Margherita was made, there have been so many different pizzas and different takes on the more traditional ones too. Depending where you visit in Italy, you will find local pizza specialities made with ingredients particular of that city or town.

But we can always recognise which ones are the ones Italians like the most.

MARGHERITA

This is the most famous one and it was the first pizza ever made back in 1889, as explained above. It’s very simple and the main ingredients are basil, mozzarella and tomato sauce, but not the ketchup kind. By tomato sauce I mean the fresh pasta sauce only Italians can make *wink wink*.

MARINARA

This is another favourite, also very simple. Tomato, oil, oregano and garlic.

PROSCIUTTO E FUNGHI

Pizza with ham and mushrooms. The prosciutto with this pizza, is prosciutto cotto and not crudo.

QUATTRO FORMAGGI

Pizza with 4 types of cheese.

VEGETARIANA

Vegetarian pizza. This always comes with a variety of vegetables, courgettes, peppers and aubergines are very common.

CAPRICCIOSA

Pizza with tomato sauce and mozzarella, with added artichokes, black olives and sometimes mushrooms too.

WURSTEL E PATATINE

As weird as it sounds, this is actually very common among young kids and teenagers. It’s pizza with wurstel and chips, very weird when I think about but is a thing.

DIAVOLA o SALAME PICCANTE