Ancient Greeks ate a flat, baked bread with assorted toppings called plankuntos.   This flatbread may have been a derivative of something Babylonians ate in earlier centuries.

While originally thought to be poisonous, Spaniards who had been to Mexico and Peru introduced the tomato to Italy in the 16th century.

The original mozzarella cheese was made from the milk of Indian water buffalo in the 7th century.   It was introduced to Italy in the 18th century.

The world's first true pizzeria may have been "Antica Pizzeria Port'Alba" which opened in 1830 and is still in business today at Via Port'Alba 18 in Naples.

Italian and Greek peasants ate earlier forms of pizza for several centuries before it became a hit among aristocracy.   In 1889, a Neapolitan named Rafaele Esposito prepared pizza for King Umberto I and Queen Margherita, who apparently loved it.

An Italian immigrant named Gennaro Lombardi opened the first U.S. pizzeria in 1895 in New York City.

Pizza is now consumed all over the world, though travelers are often amazed by how different cultures have adapted pizza to their own preferences.