Pizza In Italy: Beyond The Tourist Classics We All Know

Pizza in Italy is a huge topic, and we all know how delicious it is. Especially if you’ve already been to Italy, you know it’s hard to find such a good pizza elsewhere (except, I know, New York is a huge competitor)…

We all know the good, old, and tasty Pizza Margherita, but there is so much more to Italian Pizza than that. So, I’ve asked some of my fellow travel bloggers about their favorite pizza types they’ve tried all over Italy. With this article, we’d like to introduce more pizza types to try in Italy, their history, and where you can eat them.

I’m sorry if we’re going to make you hungry – well, that’s kind of a point of this article – to make you want to travel to Italy and try all these amazing pizzas.

So, Happy Pizza Eating!

11 Types Of Pizza In Italy You Need To Try

We’ve picked different types of pizza across all of Italy. So, check out which one seems the most delicious for you, and travel to the places mentioned in this article to try it.

It’s going to be a pizza-hunt trip to Italy. 🏃‍♂️

Here is an overview of them all:

1. Pizza Napoletana
2. Pizza Romana Tonda
3. Pizza Al Taglio
4. Spotini Pizza
5. Pizza Di Farro (Spelt Pizza)
6. Pizza All’Assassina
7. Pizza Barese
8. Pizza Fritta
9. Sfincione
10. Pizza Bianca
11. Canotto Pizza

1. Pizza Napoletana

Pizza Napoletana is the first one on the list for a reason – it’s the first and most original pizza ever created. So, I’d definitely start your pizza trip in Naples and get back to the origins of pizza.

Once upon a time, Queen Margherita visited Naples, and a local chef was full of nerves, trying to figure out what to cook for such a special visit. The region was and still is very poor, and the only ingredients he had were some vegetables, cheese, and flour.

So, the cook decided to use the available ingredients – flour, tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil- and created pizza. He also made it represent the Italian flag with the colors.

The pizza was named after the queen – and that’s how pizza started.

Nowadays, you can try the best pizza of all (I truly believe this is THE ONE) in Naples. It’s a soft and elastic dough, with puffy edges, and the best is to order marinara (only tomatoes and garlic), or margherita. In fact, the best places only make these 2 original ones.

I’m still dreaming about this pizza. Naples isn’t my favorite city in Italy, but I would travel there all over again just to eat one more piece.

📍 ORIGIN: Naples
📍 BEST PLACES TO TRY IT: L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele (expect long lines, but wait, it’s 100% worth it), Pizzeria Antonio Sorbillo

2. Pizza Romana Tonda

Pizza Romana is quite different from what you know pizza to be. In fact, when I tried it for the first time, I was very disappointed – but only because I expected the good and old gooey pizza dough with loaded ingredients. So, my expectations were completely off, hence the disappointment.

Pizza Romana is thin and very crisp, almost cracker-like. And don’t expect a lot of cheese on it, which is sad, I know. It’s usually served with various ingredients, less cheese, and whole, not by the slice.

It’s typical to get almost anywhere in Rome, so go for a pizza party and try it out. I suggest going to the Trastevere part of the city to enjoy the authentic atmosphere and get it here.

📍 ORIGIN: Rome
📍 BEST PLACES TO TRY IT: Trattoria Pizzeria da Gino alla Villetta, Pizzeria Ristorante

3. Pizza Al Taglio

Pizza al taglio (“pizza by the cut”) is one of Rome’s most iconic street foods. It’s baked in large rectangular trays, then cut with scissors into whatever size you want. The price is calculated by weight, which makes it both affordable and perfect for tasting several flavors in one visit.

This style of pizza became popular in Rome as a fast and practical option for locals who wanted something delicious on the go, without sitting down for a full meal.

I tried Pizza al taglio in Rome at Forno Campo De Fiori. We tasted both the Margherita and a zucchini-and-cheese pizza, and honestly, the zucchini slice was an amazing surprise.

The crust was thin and light, and the flavor combination felt like a perfect mix between a quiche and pizza, but still fresh and not heavy at all. The Margherita was also fantastic, especially because the mozzarella was so fresh (Italians truly know how to make great cheese).

The place is extremely popular and sometimes had a long line, but it’s worth waiting for.

📍 ORIGIN: Rome
📍 BEST PLACES TO TRY IT: Forno Campo De Fiori, Supplì Roma

🔆 By Nofar, Traveling Outside The Box

4. Spotini Pizza

In a country known for great pizza, Milan is one of the standout spots. If you want to enjoy one of the most unique and delicious slices, I recommend Pizzeria Spontini. 

They’re famous for their deep-dish pizza, which stands out in a sea of thin-crust Neapolitan pizzas. Started in 1953, the Banti family opened the first Spontini pizza shop on the corner of Corso Buenos Aires in Milan. 

While there are now 28 Spontini shops in Italy, the original is recognized by the city as a “Bottega Storica” or historical shop of Milan.

What I love about Spontini is that it’s wood-fired and sold by the slice. 

The pizzerias themselves are very casual; most have a narrow bar to sit at and basic seating for restaurant service. A few in the city center operate more like a kiosk, with standing room and ledges only. No matter which shop I get my slice from, I love how piping hot the slices come.

📍 ORIGIN: Milan
📍 BEST PLACES TO TRY IT: Pizzeria Spontini

🔆 By Chris, Spritzience

5. Pizza Di Farro (Spelt Pizza)

With more people trying to find gut-friendly options, spelt has become a popular ingredient in a health-conscious diet. Spelt is an ancient grain that is easier to digest for many people. And we all know how heavy a good old wheat pizza can be in our stomach, right?

Of course, this hasn’t stayed undiscovered by pizza bakers. So, during the last few years, spelt has also become more common to be used for pizza dough.

It has a bit of a nuttier flavour and higher protein content than wheat, but it works just as well in a classic yeast dough.

Look out for “pizza con farina di farro” when checking the menu during your next visit to an Italian pizzeria (as “farro” is the Italian word for spelt).

A wonderful place to try “pizza di farro” is Fúnnaco PizzaLab in Palermo, Sicily. It’s an amazing pizzeria where you can soak up the lively alley of Palermo. That’s definitely something you don’t want to miss when you’re exploring the island on a Sicily road trip.

In Rome, there’s even a pizzeria focusing completely on pizzas made from spelt flour, called (you may have guessed it) Farro Pizzeria.

It’s also very popular in Tuscany, Umbria, and wellness-focused kitchens.

📍 ORIGIN: Rome & Tuscany & Sicily
📍 BEST PLACES TO TRY IT: Tuscany, Umbria, Rome at Farro Pizzeria, Fúnnaco PizzaLab in Palermo

🔆 By Jill, Jillonjourney

6. Pizza All’Assassina

If you’ve ever been to Bari, you’ve probably seen spaghetti all’assassina (also called “killer spaghetti” or “burnt spaghetti) on almost every menu.

Because the dish is so popular in Bari and the surrounding area, many restaurants have created a pizza version as well. It’s less common than the pasta, and some locals still consider it a sin, but it shows up more and more often.

Bari pizza already stands out for its thicker crust. Pizza all’assassina is made with crushed San Marzano tomatoes, garlic, chili flakes, olive oil, and salt. They bake the pizza on a blazing-hot stone.

After a while, they add more garlic and oil and put it back in the oven until the edges blister, the bottom turns crisp, and the sauce fries and caramelizes. What sets this pizza apart is the aggressive, smoky intensity that defines spaghetti all’assassina.

The garlic and chili combination alone makes it worth ordering at least once.

These days, many restaurants in Bari serve pizza all’assassina. I’ve also seen it on the menu of nearby towns such as Conversano and Alberobello.

📍 ORIGIN: Bari & Puglia
📍 BEST PLACES TO TRY IT: La Locanda dell’Elfo in Bari and Vita Pugliese in Conversano

🔆 By Vanessa, Traveling Cats

7. Pizza Barese

Staying in Bari and Puglia, you gotta try the pizza barese. It’s almost like their famous focaccia barese bread. You can’t leave Bari without trying it.

It’s a delicious dough soaked in olive oil and topped with fresh tomatoes (and the tomatoes here are unlike anywhere else, seriously). Sometimes they also put potatoes into the dough. And locals are very proud of it.

The pizza barese is very similar to this focaccia bread with thick dough, a focaccia look, topped with tomatoes, oregano, and olives from the region.

I warn you – it’s very oily, but doesn’t feel heavy at all – and olive oil is healthy, so don’t worry and indulge in it fully.

📍 ORIGIN: Bari
📍 BEST PLACES TO TRY IT: La Baresana, Alla Barese

8. Pizza Fritta

Returning to Naples for a moment, you gotta also gotta try their deep-fried pizza.

It’s a fried dough stuffed with ricotta, salami, and ciccioli. Ingredients vary based on the place. It’s one of the best street foods in Naples nowadays. And it’s perfect on the go as you’re exploring Naples, crunchy outside and soft inside, with a delicious taste.

Just imagine the cheese melted inside the fried dough, it’s unforgettable.

📍 ORIGIN: Naples
📍 BEST PLACES TO TRY IT: Antica Pizza Fritta da Zia Esterina Sorbillo, La Masardona

9. Sfincione

Imagine a pizza… but fluffier, softer, and unapologetically extra. Sfincione is Palermo’s comfort food. It’s a thick, pillowy slab of dough that feels almost like focaccia, topped with a rich tomato sauce that’s been slow-cooked with onions until it’s sweet and jammy.

Then comes a generous portion of breadcrumbs (yes, breadcrumbs!), a drizzle of olive oil, and usually some salty, melty Sicilian cheese hiding underneath.

The result? Crispy on top, soft and airy inside, savory, slightly sweet, and deeply satisfying. This is the kind of food you eat standing on a street corner, crumbs everywhere, wondering why you don’t eat this every week of your life.

And the best place to try it is in Sicily, especially Palermo.

📍 ORIGIN: Palermo (Sicily)
📍 BEST PLACES TO TRY IT: La Sfincioneria, Panificio Graziano

10. Pizza Bianca

My number one favourite pizza, that I can’t help but indulge in while visiting Italy, is pizza bianca.

This tomato-less pizza originated in ancient Rome, where chefs would quickly make this simple dough to check if an oven was hot enough.

Its crisp, golden crust is served drizzled with olive oil, coarse salt, and toppings that focus on delicate flavours, like mozzarella, mushrooms, and sliced potato.

I’ve never been a fan of tomato as a pizza base, so when I found Disìu Pizzeria Balestrate in Sicily and saw that it specialises in pizza bianca, I was already sold!

My dish, topped with prosciutto, chicken, mozzarella, and a gentle drizzle of barbecue sauce, was delicious. And sitting outside in the local square, staring up at a beautiful church while eating pizza, was just absolute perfection. I highly recommend you try it, too!

📍 ORIGIN: Rome & Sicily
📍 BEST PLACES TO TRY IT: Disìu Pizzeria Balestrate

🔆 By Natalie, Travel More With Nat

11. Canotto Pizza

Canotto Pizza is all about that crust. Big, puffy, and airy, it looks like it’s been inflated – hence the name, which means “dinghy.” The middle stays thin and soft, while the edges are tall, light, and slightly crispy on the outside.

Toppings are usually kept simple so the dough can shine: good tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, maybe a few classic extras.

It’s the kind of pizza you eat slowly, tearing into the crust and thinking, wow, this is what pizza should be. If you love crust, Canotto is a must-try.

It’s very popular in the Campania region – Naples, but you’ll also find it in bigger cities like Rome and Milan.

📍 ORIGIN: Rome & Sicily
📍 BEST PLACES TO TRY IT: Piccolo Buco, Vincenzo Capuano Roma

FAQs

I’ve also answered some of the frequently asked questions about pizza, so check the answers below to learn even more:

How Is Pizza Different In Italy?

What makes the biggest difference is the temperature of the oven they bake the pizza in, which is usually between 450 and 500°.

What Is The Traditional Pizza Of Italy?

Pizza Margherita is the most traditional pizza in Italy, the most original, which was first created in Naples.

What Do They Call Pizza In Italy?

They call it with popular names like Margherita, Marinara, Pizza Romana, Capricciosa, Quattro Formaggi, or Pizza al Padellino (with thick-crust).

Which Pizza Is Famous In Italy?

Margherita is the most famous pizza all over Italy, and the best place to try it is in its origin – Naples.

What Town In Italy Is Known For Pizza?

Naples is the town known for pizza, as it’s where pizza originated. And they truly have the most delicious pizza there.

What Is The Most Ordered Pizza In Italy?

Pizza Margherita is the most ordered pizza, classic, traditional, simple, and delicious.

What Part Of Italy Is Best For Pizza?

The Campania region is mostly famous for pizza, with its capital city, Naples. Other famous parts are Rome, Sicily, and Puglia.

What Is The #1 Best Pizza In The World?

People often rank Mama’s TOO and UNA Pizza Napoletana in New York, USA, as the best pizza in the world. In Italy, Pizza Napoletana at L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele in Naples is often ranked as the best one.

What Is Thick Pizza Called In Italy?

Pizza Siciliana, also known as Sfincione, is the classical thick pizza, and you can get it anywhere in Sicily, mainly in Palermo.

WRAP-UP: Pizza In Italy

These are the types of pizza you can try in Italy on your holidays, apart from the original pizza you know. So, have fun, try them all – and prepare your stomach. It’s a lot, but you’ve got this! Let’s be honest – we all come to Italy mainly to eat pizza and delicious pasta… so, no shame.

I’ve actually moved to Italy (not because of pizza, because I fell in love with the Dolomites). But pizza is a great addition, and I’m so happy to be able to eat it whenever I want to.

If you need help planning your trip to Italy, I’ll be happy to suggest more hidden gems for you and create a customized travel itinerary. Or book this 1-on-1 travel chat with me, and I’ll help you plan in real time and answer all your questions.

Happy Travels!

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