Bread is one of the worlds oldest prepared foods. In some of the first history of Rome and other ancient Mediterranean areas, there are records of people eating a flat round of dough topped with herbs and then baked on stones. Pizza, focaccia, and the pita are all flatbreads that have survived from ancient Mediterranean times and are still enjoyed today. In fact, the word "Pita" may have the same root word as "pizza".

       The peasants of Naples, Italy began topping their focaccio with tomato sauce during the 1800's. As this became more common, Pizza became a tourist attraction in Naples. Vendors from bakeries sold Pizzas in the streets.

       Some Italian Pizza Purists will argue that there are only two true pizzas; the Marinara and the Margherita. The Pizza alla Marinara brings tomato, oregano, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, and basil. Its name derives from the fishermen who ate this food when they returned home from fishing trips in the Bay of Naples. The Pizza Margherita was said to be made for the first time in 1889 for Queen Margherita, wife of Umberto I. Upon visiting the peasant towns, Queen Margherita grew a curiosity for these Pizza breads and had Chef Rafaelle Esposito come from his pizzeria and bake her a selection of pizza.In honor of the queen, Rafaelle made a special pizza topped with tomato sauce, basil,and mozarella cheese representing the Italian flag red, white, and green!

      In the United States, pizza remained within the communities of Italian immigrants. In large cities like New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Philidelphia, stores began selling pizza to local Italians. However, it was not until after World War II that pizza became mainstream. Allied Soldiers returned with an appetite for pizza increasing its popularity.

      Pizzerias began to open and popular pizza restaurant chains began to develop nationwide.

 

http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margherita_di_Savoia_(regina)