Excavations of the city have revealed evidence of
flat breads being baked in stone hearth ovens along with
tools that resemble modern pizza supplies.
16th Century Tomatoes were brought back from the New
World. Originally thought to be poisonous, it was not until
later in the century that poor Neapolitans began to add
tomatoes to their flatbreads.
17th Century Visitors and locals would travel to
poor
areas of Naples to sample the widely popular peasant fare,
solidifying the city as the birthplace of pizza.
1780 Pizzeria Brandi (originally Pizzeria Pietro) opened in
Naples, Italy and is the first authentic pizzeria. Pizzeria
Brandi is still operating today.
1889 Queen Margherita of Savoy summoned pizzaoli (pizza
maker) Raffaele Esposito to the palace to sample his
culinary skill. Esposito prepared a special pizza for the
occasion that used mozzarella cheese, plum tomatoes and
fresh basil to resemble the Italian flag. Pizza Margherita,
as it is still called, is now considered to be the gold
standard for pizza. >> Learn More
1905 Gennaro Lombardi opened America’s first pizzeria,
Lombardi’s, in New York City. Several other pizzerias
followed and were found exclusively in Italian neighborhoods.
1943 Ike Sewell opened Pizzeria Uno in Chicago and created
the Chicago Style Deep-Dish Pizza.
1945 Soldiers returning home from WWII brought with them a
taste for pizza that they developed while stationed
overseas, and pizza’s popularity exploded in the United
States. The increasing popularity also gave rise to modern
pizza delivery, in which a customer calls to place an order,
and the pizza is driven to the person’s house.
1957 Frozen pizza was introduced by Celentano Brothers. Countless frozen pizzas are now being sold to bachelors,
college students and families across the country.
1958 Pizza Hut was founded and has since become the world’s
largest pizza franchise.
1967 The first Domino’s Pizza opens.
1984 The Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (VPN) was
formed to protect Neapolitan pizza and promote it