TIPS ON ITALY by Tonya Clement
How Italians Really Eat Pizza
(Hint: It’s Not By the Slice)
When you imagine grabbing a slice of pizza, you might think of New York-style folds or takeaway boxes. But in Italy — the birthplace of pizza — things are very different. Pizza here is not just food; it’s a ritual.
And spoiler alert: Italians don't casually eat slices on the go. Let’s dive into how Italians really enjoy their pizza, and how you can do it like a local!
Pizza Is a Sit-Down Experience
In Italy, pizza is something you sit down to savor, not something you eat walking down the street. When Italians go out for pizza (often with family or friends), they go to a pizzeria, sit at a table, and order their own whole pizza — yes, a full, personal-sized pizza. There’s no sharing a pie unless you're specifically splitting, and no ordering by the slice (except at some pizza al taglio shops — but more on that later).