Updated on March 25, 2017


March 25, 2017
Italy has asked Unesco to add the Neapolitan pizza to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage
Posted by Alberto Roycor Updated on March 25, 2017

Neapolitan pizza Marinara

Neapolitan Pizza Marinara from Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba

Italy has asked Unesco to add the Neapolitan pizza to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This Italian dish was included in December 2009 in the European list of traditional food products (TFP). Neapolitan pizza dough must weigh between 180 grams (6.34931 oz) and 250 grams (8.81849 oz), cannot be thicker than 0.4 cm (0.157480 inches). The diameter must be of 35 cm (13.7795 inches) and the border of 2 cm (0.787401 inches). The calories per 100 grams cannot surpass the 188

According to tradition, in June 1889 cook Raffaele Esposito of the pizzeria Brandi created the Neapolitan Margherita pizza , to honor the Queen of Italy, Margaret of Savoy. The Neapolitan pizza depicts with its condiments (tomato, mozzarella and basil) the colors of the Italian flag . It was the first pizza recipe to incorporate cheese.

In the strictest tradition of Neapolitan cuisine, there are only two types of Neapolitan pizza:

a) Marinara, with tomato, garlic, oregano and extra virgin olive oil (no cheese). It is the most genuine.

b) Margarita (Margherita) with tomato, Campania buffalo mozzarella, basil and extra virgin olive oil. Some purists say that the tomatoes must be from San Marzano.

The oldest World’s pizzeria is Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba, in Via Port’Alba 18, Naples.

Picture of an authentic Pizza Margherita taken by Valerio Capello on September 6th 2005 in a pizzeria (“I Decumani”) located on the Via dei Tribunali in Naples.