Pizza, with its ancient roots spanning back to civilizations like the Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks, has a captivating history. Early renditions, including a Greek version reminiscent of today's focaccia, paved the way for the modern pizza we know today, especially in Naples, Italy.
In the 1700s and early 1800s, Naples thrived as a bustling port city, known for its large population of working-class people called lazzaroni. These individuals, often living in meager conditions, sought quick and affordable meals. Pizza emerged as a solution, offering a flatbread topped with tomatoes, cheese, olive oil, anchovies, and garlic—ingredients still beloved today.
Pizza's popularity grew, especially after King Umberto I and Queen Margherita sampled it in 1889. Legend has it that Queen Margherita favored a pizza adorned with soft white cheese, ripe tomatoes, and fragrant basil, which became known as pizza Margherita in her honor.
While pizza remained mainly in Naples until the mid-20th century, Italian immigrants brought it to the United States, where it quickly gained traction.
