Out of all the culinary wonders to come out of Italy, pizza is probably the most popular! Current estimates suggest around 5 billion pizzas are served around the world every year and we aren’t surprised at all – there really is nothing more delicious than Italian pizza. If you’re having pizza in Italy you’ll find lots of delicious toppings to add to your pizzas including potatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, anchovies and many more. Discover 5 types of Italian Pizza that you’ll find during your trip to Italy.

#1 Pizza Fritta  | Deep Fried Pizza

Before it became fashionable with royals, Neapolitan street-food vendors were cooking up a fried dish for peasants called pizza fritta. To make this calzone-like snack, chefs first flatten two discs of dough and then put meat, mozzarella, tomato sauce, and a few herbs on top of one slice. Bakers then put the second slice of dough over the toppings and seal the two around the edges. Finally, this pouch is thrown into a vat of hot oil and cooked until the dough appears golden brown. If you’re visiting Naples, you’ll still find vendors and many restaurants selling this delicious pizza.

#2 Stracchino e Rucola | Cheese and arugula pizza

Another (slightly healthier) pizza that you’ll find in Italy is known as Stracchino e Rucola. Stracchino refers to a creamy cheese that’s mainly produced in Lombardy and “rucola” is Italian for arugula. As you might’ve already guessed, the primary ingredients for this pizza are very simple yet tasty, they include stracchino cheese,  olive oil, and arugula. Sometimes chefs will add a bit of mozzarella and/or prosciutto to add flavor and texture.

#3 Ortolana Pizza | Vegetarian Eggplant Pizza

If you’re looking for a vegetarian pizza full of flavour, the Ortolana style pizza is the one for you.. “Orto” in Italian means “vegetable garden,” so Ortolana means something “from the vegetable garden.” The star of this veggie pizza is the eggplant. It is cut into slices and roasted before being placed on top of the dough to give it extra flavor and texture. A few other important vegetables that go into this pizza include artichoke hearts and red bell peppers. Usually chefs use mozzarella cheese and a tomato sauce base mixed with oregano to make a satisfying Ortolana that will make you dreaming of this when you leave.

#4 Margherita con mozzarella di bufala | Margerita pizza with water buffalo mozzerella

While many of us are familiar with the traditional Margherita pizza that has been around for hundreds of years, few of us could tell the difference between a Margherita made with fior di latte or mozzarella di bufala, two very important cheeses in Italy. The main difference between these two mozzarella cheeses is that fior di latte mozzarella comes from a cow whereas mozzarella di bufala comes from a water buffalo. Bufala Margherita pizza has all the same ingredients of a standard Margherita pizza (olive oil, tomato sauce, and basil), except it replaces fior di latte with buffalo mozzarella, a delicious addition that you’ll fall in love with. Most people who taste both cheeses claim that the mozzarella di bufala is creamier than fior di latte, but you’ll only know once you try for yourself.

#5 Capricciosa Pizza | Ham, Mushrooms, Mozzarella, and Artichoke pizza

Last, but certainly not least, is one of the most famous Roman pizzas: the Capricciosa Pizza. This pizza was named after the historic restaurant La Capricciosa on Rome’s Via del Corso Largo Dei Lombardi 8. Legend has it that chef Enea Dante Santerini created this legendary pizza for guests at Capricciosa and the Santerini family patented the recipe soon afterward. The main ingredients in a classic Capricciosa pizza include ham, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, and, of course, tomatoes! There are, however, a few variations on the Capricciosa nowadays that add or subtract certain ingredients. A few common ingredients people add to Capricciosa include olives, basil, and eggs.

Wherever you go in the world nowadays, you’ll be sure to find pizzerias full of a variety of different pizzas. People put plenty of varied toppings on their pizzas to suit their native tastes. For instance, it’s not uncommon to see Japanese restaurants serve their pizza topped with squid ink, corn, or mayo. Costa Ricans love coconut flakes, Indians like pickled ginger, and some Chinese like eel as a toppings! While all these variations are well worth a try, anyone who wants the real deal will have to book a trip to Italy.