Making pizza is a skill to be mastered, and—if you ask us—despite the number of restaurants around the world boasting authentic Italian pizza, there's only one place where pizza is truly worth traveling for: Naples. And the United Nations unanimously agrees. Last Friday, the World Heritage Committee awarded Naples's pizza-twirling a spot on UNESCO's list of Intangible Heritage—an honor the Italian city has been working towards for months.
The UNESCO Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage votes on giving distinction to cultural traditions that are struggling to survive or maintain their unique identity. According to the trade outlet Pizza Marketplace, the Association of Neapolitan Pizzaioli—Naples's association of pizza-makers—campaigned to add the culinary tradition to the UNESCO list after seeing how other cultures have appropriated pizza, by adding non-Italian sauces, cheeses, and unconventional toppings (we're looking at you, barbecue sauce and pineapple).
The group wanted UNESCO to recognize every part of the Neapolitan pizza-making process, which includes spinning and twirling the dough, throwing it in the air to oxygenate it, and baking it in a beechwood-burning oven. And, now that the tradition successfully holds UNESCO status, pizza-makers have taken to the streets in celebration. The best part? Fresh pizzas were handed out for free, according to the BBC.
A total of 35 world traditions were nominated to join the UNESCO list along with the Neapolitan tradition, including Konjic woodcarving in Bosnia and Herzegovina, dolma-making in Azerbaijan, and Pinisi boatbuilding in Indonesia (all the nominations can be found here). Created in 2003 to increase awareness about local traditions, the UNESCO Intangible Heritage list currently includes customs like flamenco dancing in Spain and gingerbread-making in Northern Croatia. After last Friday's decision, there are now 470 entries—more than enough reason to celebrate with free pizza.
This article was originally published on December 3, 2017. It has been updated with new information.
