Italian Pizza - From Antiquity Until Our Days

Over the past 50 years, pizza has become a favorite food for a huge number of people around the world. Millions of pies are baked and eaten daily in cafes, pizzerias and restaurants. But very few people know how and under what circumstances this popular dish was created. The true story of the origin of pizza is also beautiful and colorful, like a magnificent stack of freshly baked pies.

There is a well-known belief that originally pizza was created by Italians in the 17th century. However, this is not entirely true, because its origin should be attributed to much more ancient times. So, flat cakes with filling were consumed by Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks and other Middle Eastern cultures. Cakes were made from fresh, unleavened pastry and baked in clay ovens. As the toppings used sheep cheese, herbs and spices. Similar to pizza pita bread was widely distributed in Greece and the Middle East. It is also known that the ancient peoples inhabiting the Mediterranean countries ate bread impregnated with warm olive oil and local spices.

This kind of pizza began its distribution in Italy many centuries ago. Local bakers made warm and fragrant cakes with butter and herbs, which they sold in benches. Passers-by bought a cake and used directly on the streets, literally on the go. Later such "fast food" began to gain popularity and enterprising traders began to open small cafes where you could sit down and eat fresh pie.

Pizza in its more modern appearance appeared in the XIX century in Naples. Its creation is attributed to the famous at that time bakery Raffaele Esposito. According to the story, the Italian monarch Umberto instead of with his wife Margarita toured the area. To impress them and show their patriotic fervor, the baker created a cake, the ingredients of which best reflect the colors of the Italian flag: red tomato, white mozzarella cheese and green basil. The king and the queen were so impressed that the news instantly flew around the country and soon here and there began to appear flat cakes with cheese and tomatoes.

The second country after Italy, where pizza enjoys incredible popularity and love, is America. At the beginning of the 19th century, a large number of Italian migrants began to appear in the United States, especially in New York and Chicago. Gradually, cafes and eateries began to appear in the neighborhoods, offering Italian dishes and, above all, pizza. Subsequently, the dish was widely spread also thanks to American soldiers who at the end of the Second World War served on the borders of Italy and addicted to miracle cakes.

Today, pizza has become as American as baseball and apple pie. Almost all cafes and bistros can be found at least a few of its types. Also Americans like to order pizza at home, enjoying its taste for watching TV or in the company of friends. Whatever it was, it's safe to say that pizza conquered the world. Fast in cooking, incredibly tasty and available to everyone, pizza won the hearts of millions of people!