The Margherita Was Named After a Queen
Pizzas are flatbreads with toppings. The classic Neapolitan version was reportedly named for an Italian queen in 1889.
Pizzas are flatbreads baked with toppings, originating in Naples. The Margherita has a founding story: a Naples pizzaiolo is said to have made one in 1889 for Queen Margherita of Savoy, with tomato, mozzarella and basil for the red, white and green of the Italian flag. The tale is partly documented and partly legend, and it stuck.
- Topped flatbreads. *Two pizzas.*
- Pizza — the singular. *A margherita pizza.*
- Pizzeria — a pizza restaurant. *A Naples pizzeria.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | pizza | A thin pizza. |
| Plural | pizzas | Three pizzas. |
| Person | pizzaiolo | A skilled pizzaiolo. |
| Place | pizzeria | A busy pizzeria. |
| Related | focaccia | Rosemary focaccia. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Neapolitan pizza has protected status.Under EU rules.
- The Margherita uses the flag's colours.Red, white and green.
- A pizzaiolo makes the pizza.The Italian term.
Pizza facts
- Naples — the birthplace of pizza as now understood
- Protected status — Neapolitan pizza has EU traditional speciality protection
- Wood-fired ovens — reach around 450 degrees, cooking a pizza in ninety seconds
- Tomatoes — arrived from the Americas and were slow to be accepted in Europe
- 00 flour — finely milled Italian flour used for the dough
From Italian *pizza*, of uncertain origin, recorded in Latin documents from Gaeta in 997. Several etymologies have been proposed.
Is the Margherita story true?
Partly. A document supports the visit, but historians treat the founding legend with caution and note similar pizzas predate 1889.
Why do wood-fired pizzas cook so fast?
Because the oven floor reaches around 450 degrees, cooking a thin base in about ninety seconds.