Travel is back in full, and some destinations are of particular interest…
Travel is back in full, and some destinations are of particular interest this year. One of those is Italy, thanks to 2025 being a Jubilee year.
That means you can expect a few crowds, particularly in Rome. So, if you go this year consider your food interests and think about Naples.
For years we’ve heard that Napoli had the best pizza in Italy. We checked out our share of pizza during a recent trip, and have to agree. We found our favorite along the Amalfi Coast simply by asking people on the street as we walked through the town.
Many answered our question, “Where do we get the best pizza,” with a smile, an all-encompassing gesture, and the word, “Anywhere!” However, enough of them pointed toward a town square, the Piazza Municipio, where Pizza Madre Salvatore di Matteo* sat, making that our choice.
We approached and found an employee ready to gesture us in and assure us we had the best possible place. We entered and were escorted upstairs, then seated by a window with a view of the square, near the Golfo di Napoli and including the Castel Nuovo.
While the menu was in Italian, it was easy enough to translate and order a buffalo mozzarella and basil edition. And we swooned.
Food Arts magazine once wrote something we’ve long remembered: “It’s well-known that Italian chefs obsess about products…and superior provenance—be it flours, oils, salts, pastas, vinegars, cheeses.” (May 2010; “Fluent in Italian”). While the magazine ceased publication in 2014, it knew its stuff!
As they said, maybe it’s the ultra-fresh ingredients. Maybe it’s the simplicity. Perhaps it’s something in the water. Whatever it is, it’s delicious.
- A pizza in Italy is reasonably priced – starting at about $10 in U.S. dollars. It’s also a shareable size, but feel free to order one for each if you have a place for leftovers.
- A pizza in Italy does not usually come pre-cut. You can cut it yourself, tear it, or whatever – just enjoy it.
- There is almost always a charge for drinks – of course wine, or soda, but tap water is rarely served. A shareable bottle of water runs about $4. We took the opportunity to try something different and ordered a limonata (basically a sparkling lemonade), which was also available in orange.
Now it’s your turn. Go on your own food quest and see what you find!
NOTE: The restaurant not does have a traditional website so simply search “pizza madre naples” to see reviews and other experiences.
Photos by Paul K. Logsdon
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