Pizza has a very long, complex and uncertain history. It is true that pizza as we know it today originated in Naples, Italy, but flatbreads with toppings were already consumed by the ancient Romans. At the time though, these flatbreads were not made with durum wheat flour, did not require any leavening and were cooked directly on the fire or on hot stones.

The first record of the word ‘pizza’ dates as early as 997. The word indicated a stuffed bread folded on itself that cooked in the oven. Toppings included lard, a few pieces of garlic and coarse salt, but also olive oil, cheese and some aromatic herbs including basil.