Neapolitan Pizza Gains World Heritage Status

The United Nations has granted Neapolitan pizza World heritage status, following the application submitted by Italy to UNESCO in 2016.

Now they have officially been recognized as intangible heritage by UNESCO, with the UN’s Educational and Cultural agency adding the pizzaiuoli, as they are called here, to the list of cultural treasures across the world in need of protection.

Although UNESCO’s world heritage list is better known for the physical landmarks it protects, it has also kept a list of what it calls “intangible cultural heritage” for several years.

The UN’s officials explain that this pizza is a result of proud bearers of a tradition that is handed down from generation to generation. An online petition supporting the pizzaiouli attracted more than two million signatures.

According to the petition and application for the status, Italians are displeased with additions to the traditional recipes, ingredients including everything like pineapples, non-Italian sauces and cheeses, and other edible “grafitti.”

International recognition, they say, would safeguard the original pizza making tradition from the many imitations.