A trip to Naples is always interesting. It is sometimes seen as a grimy city and it’s certainly real and less full of tourists than some of the big hitters like Rome and Florence. What it does still have though is the history. With nearby Pompeii and a great tradition in pizza making, we headed to Antica Pizzerria Port Alba, purportedly the oldest pizzeria in the world.
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The history of pizza in Naples
Naples is the spiritual home of pizza. You can hardly walk a step in the city without the smell of freshly cooked pizza.
While the history of the pizza is varied and uncertain there is no doubt it was sold here on the streets, primarily to the poorer residents, from the 16th century.
It’s popular folklore that the Margherita pizza was invented in 1889 by a Neapolitan pizza maker to honour the Queen consort of Italy, Margherita of Savoy.
Raffaele Esposito garnished his symbolic pizza with ingredients that represented the national colours of Italy. The red from the tomatoes, the white with the mozzarella and the green from the basil.
Pizza in Naples is serious business.
Pizza in Naples today
And even today, with more than 12,000 pizzerias in the city, it’s fair to say it is a popular dish with the locals.
There are very strict rules for the pizzaioli or pizza-makers in Naples who often spend two to three years as apprentices first.
And good pizza depends on a number of factors, such as how the dough is kneaded, how the oven is looked after and of course, what you put on your pizza.
A true Neapolitan pizza is now even recognised by the EU as a copyrighted traditional speciality. And an authentic Margherita must have mozzarella from “the southern Apennines”, use locally grown tomatoes and be no more than 35cm in diameter.
Antica Pizzerria Port Alba, Naples – the oldest pizzeria in the world
So, after much thorough research we found ourselves in Antica Pizzerria Port Alba in the Centro Antico part of Naples. This is the ancient heart of the city.
Antica is one of the oldest pizzerias in the world, opened in 1738 and still going strong.
We decided to try a Margarita (it had to be done) and a vegetable pizza and they were both delicious. Great dough, really tasty fresh tomato base and just the right amount of mozzarella.
With ovens lined with lava rocks from Mount Vesuvius, you know this is going to be a special place and it really was. Certainly worth venturing into Naples for.
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Our ultimate guide to Italy with kids
The best things to do in Naples with kids
Read all about our winter trip to Puglia in Italy for more inspiration.
that pizza looks delish! i love proper italian pizza, but i would love to eat a proper italian pizza IN italy even more!
I know, it has to be the best doesn’t it?! And it really was yummy!! Thank you for the comments!
Ohh lord I love pizza so nice .x
Me too…and this was such a tasty one!! Thank you for reading.
I loved Naples when we went there last year. Looks like a great pizzeria!
It was a great pizzeria – full of history and you could feel it. The pizza was delicious too!
Oh gosh that looks delicious and sooooo BIG!
I know…and how bad is this, we had 3 of them between us!!
That looks so yummy. My hubby would love this trip so much x
Yes, mine would like to go back on this trip!! Definitely recommended!
That is one very good looking pizza. Ovens lines with lava rocks, no wonder it does!
I know, doesn’t that sound amazing?! And it was a very good tasting pizza too!
OH MY GOD……………Being on a diet is not great at the moment but seeing that yummy Pizza is making me even more hungry than ever. xx
Ah sorry!! I keep looking at it and wanting to have it again!! Thank you for reading!
Ohhhh… REAL pizza! That looks SO delicious! It’s on my bucket list now!
It really was the real deal! I might have to put it back on my bucket list so I can go there again!
That pizza looks so good and I am feeling incredibly hungry now!
The cruise sounds wonderful. I have also spent only a few hours in Naples as the museum we wanted to visit was shut. All I remember is hundreds of people zooming around on scooters. Happy memories.
I would love to have gone to the museum but we spent the morning in Pompeii so only had limited time – and tracking down the pizza seemed like a very good way to spend it!
I lived in sicily for a few months and I must say you can’t beat proper Italian handmade pizza. It is so delicious and the flavours all marry together Thank you for the memories x
Wow, lucky you! I really want to visit Sicily! Thank you for the lovely comments.
nothing beats proper handmade pizza – that looks so yummy!
They are definitely the best and this one was delicious!
The pizza looks delicious nothing beats a pizza cooked the proper way in a pizza oven.
You’re so right…and there’s something about eating it in Italy too, so special!
It looks the part!
There is nothing better than a fresh made pizza.
It really was the part, it was so delicious…I would eat it right now if I could!!
I so badly want to visit Italy, and after reading this and seeing the pictures, I so badly want a pizza too!
It’s a beautiful country – I hope you get to visit soon.
It definitely looks delicious! I love vocations which still understand how important it is to be trained well, it shows in the love people have for what they do.
Yes, it’s so nice that it is still taken so seriously there – it helps to keep the quality up. Thank you for your comments!
Oh wow…2-3 years as an apprentice to make a pizza? They certainly are dedicated to get it right
Sure looks good though!!
They are definitely dedicated and it shows, or should that be tastes! 🙂
I can almost smell it from that last photo! Authentic pizza with fresh ingredients is difficult to beat.
It definitely is isn’t it?! You can’t beat it!
Wow – I want some pizza now! Pizza hasn’t tasted the same since I we went to Rome
That’s so true…nothing quite compares after real pizza does it?!
OMG WOW @ that pizza!! It looks superb! I love how dedicated they are!
They really are dedicated and you can taste the difference – delicious!
I haven’t had pizza for ages and I miss it so much! That pizza looks delicious 🙂
It was so good! This would definitely be a pizza worth waiting for!
Just the title of this post got my mouth watering! The best pizza I’ve ever eaten has been in Venice, and I would love to go to Italy again on the hunt for the perfect one!
Yes I feel I still need to do more research on this topic 😉 The setting, history and taste of this one is going to be hard to beat though!
Mmmm i want some pizza for breakfast now ha ha! I love pizza and would love to go to italy someday and have a lovely italian homemade pizza x
Pizza in Italy really is the best, there’s something about eating it in its spiritual home! Hope you get to soon.
Wow that pizza looks amazing. What a great place to visit and enjoy the food
Thank you for your comments – it really was amazing – I’m still craving more!!
Now I would love to try proper Pizza in its land of origin *jealous face*
🙂 It’s such an experience. I hope you get to try some there soon!
Excellent! Many thanks for this – I’ll probably be passing through Naples next month so you just saved me a bit of research. 🙂
I hope you enjoyed it! It’s a wonderful place! 🙂