History of Pizza in Timeline

Pizza is an Italian dish, originating in Naples, characterized by a flat, leavened wheat-based dough topped with ingredients like tomato and cheese. It is typically baked at high temperatures, often in a wood-fired oven.

1905: Lombardi's, first pizzeria in the US opened

In 1905, Lombardi's, the first pizzeria in the United States, opened in New York City.

1905: First US Pizzeria Opened

The first pizzeria in the US was opened in New York City's Little Italy in 1905.

1984: True Neapolitan Pizza Association founded

In 1984, the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (True Neapolitan Pizza Association) was founded in Naples to promote traditional Neapolitan pizza.

1997: Annual pizza cheese production

In 1997, it was estimated that annual production of pizza cheese was 1 million metric tons in the US and 100,000 metric tons in Europe.

2009: Neapolitan pizza registered as traditional speciality

In 2009, Neapolitan pizza was registered with the European Union as a traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG) dish.

2015: Pizza Consumption in Buenos Aires

In 2015, Buenos Aires was estimated to consume 14 million pizzas per year.

2017: Neapolitan pizza making added to UNESCO list

In 2017 the art of making Neapolitan pizza was included on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage.

2017: World pizza market at US$128 billion

In 2017, the world pizza market reached US$128 billion, with the US market at $44 billion across 76,000 pizzerias. Approximately 13% of the US population over two years old consumed pizza on any given day.

2023: Pizza-like dish discovered in Pompeii fresco

In 2023, archeologists discovered a fresco in Pompeii appearing to depict a pizza-like dish among other foodstuffs and staples on a silver platter. Italy's culture minister said it "may be a distant ancestor of the modern dish".