ALL YOU ‘KNEAD’ TO KNOW ABOUT PIZZA

What better way for young visitors to savour Italian culture than to join in the fun of a pizza-making class? Enjoy a hands-on, family-friendly experience at one of Rome’s centrally located restaurants and discover the secrets behind the preparation of this traditional world-famous dish.

Pizza is undisputedly the best-known symbol of Italian gastronomy. You may not know that its origins date back to the ancient Greeks and Romans who enjoyed baked flat breads that were seasoned with olive oil and local herbs, creations that today we would call focaccia breads. Indeed it is thought that the word pizza derives from ancient Greek pektos meaning solid or baked.

The invention of the modern pizza is, however, something of a mystery. Neapolitan baker Raffaele Esposito is often credited with the honour of being the very first pizza-maker. According to a popular urban legend, shortly after Italy’s unification, King Umberto I and his wife Queen Margherita, took a trip to Naples. While there, the queen grew bored of French cuisine, which was popular at that time in southern Italy, and requested that something more local be prepared. Chef Esposito did just that. He created a selection of three pizzas for her pleasure, one of which was chosen by the queen as her favourite and supposedly named after her. This pizza was topped with three ingredients whose colours are a tribute to the Italian flag: green basil, white mozzarella cheese and red tomato sauce. And that’s how Pizza Margherita was launched in 1889, triggering a culinary tradition that began in Naples and spread throughout the world.

In the afternoon you will meet your private guide at your accommodation and enjoy a pleasant walk through town, passing a series of well-loved landmarks on the way. In Piazza Navona, while you admire Bernini’s glorious Fountain of the Four Rivers and the facade of Borromini’s Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone, you will hear tales of the most celebrated enemies in the history of art that will certainly raise a smile. Rivalry is one human characteristic that never changes! Then proceed towards the Pantheon, one of the capital’s oldest, best-preserved and most spectacular buildings. Built by Emperor Hadrian in around 125 AD, it was originally a temple devoted to many gods. With its grandiose colonnade, vast bronze doors and awe-inspiring dome – with a hole on top! – it still fascinates visitors today, almost two thousand years after its completion. You’ll also get the chance to stop for photos in Piazza di Spagna… anyone up for a race to the top of its 135 steps? And don’t forget to toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain for good luck as well as to ensure your return trip to Rome.

After the tour your guide will drop you off at a centrally located restaurant where you will take part in an authentic pizza-making class. With the friendly assistance of an expert pizzaiolo, young chefs will learn cooking techniques and recipe secrets including how to knead the dough, roll the perfect pizza base and create the most delicious topping by selecting a well-matched combination of ingredients. An enticing pizza will be the reward for your efforts… Buon appetito!