Surprising Facts About Italian Pizza You’ve Never Heard Before

What You Didn’t Know About Pizza

Pizza may be one of the world’s most beloved foods today, but it actually began as a humble meal eaten by peasants in Italy. In its early days, no noble or upper-class citizen would be seen enjoying it. Over time, however, this simple flatbread dish topped with local ingredients evolved into an international comfort food favorite.

A Slice of History

Food historians believe that pizza-like dishes were enjoyed long ago by cultures across the Mediterranean, including the Greeks and Egyptians. But the pizza we know and love today is widely attributed to baker Raffaele Esposito from Naples. In 1889, he created a special pizza for the visit of King Umberto I and Queen Margherita of Italy. This dish, made with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil to represent the Italian flag, became known as the Margherita pizza.

Pizza soon made its way across the ocean. The first pizza shop in the United States opened in 1905 in New York City, founded by Gennaro Lombardi on Spring Street.

Why Is Pizza Round?

Although pizza can come in many shapes—round, square, or even rectangular—the round version became the most popular. One reason is practicality: round pizzas are easier to cut and cook evenly, and they fit neatly into circular pans and boxes. It’s also easier to divide a circle into equal slices—perfect for sharing.

Pizza Today

Today, pizza is a global favorite. In the United States alone, people eat around 350 slices per second. The top topping? Pepperoni—making up a whopping 36 percent of all pizza orders.

Learn and Taste the Culture

Exploring Italian culture is more than just tasting delicious dishes—it’s also about language, traditions, and history. Kids can explore all these aspects through Dinolingo’s Italian lessons, which turn learning into a fun adventure with games, songs, and interactive activities. It’s a great way to bring Italian culture to life—one word (or slice) at a time.