Fellow Pizza Lovers I'm sure you've tasted many a pizza but the pizza in Rome, Italy, can be quite different from its American style counterpart.It must be noted that there are big differences between the north and south of Italy regarding their Pizzas (or Pizze in Italian) you may know that Pizza was originally invented in the south of Italy- in Naples. This article focuses on the Pizza in Rome or the Lazio region.

There are two main kinds of Roman pizza: pizza Rustico or Pizza Al Taglio (which means by weight): Al Taglio pizza is a relatively thick crusted pizza, baked in rectangular pans. This pizza is usually baked in an electric oven. It is cut with scissors or a knife into rectangular slices in front of the customer and sold by weight. The second kind is a thinner crusted round Pizza baked in a brick oven usually served in restaurants (Trattorrias) or Pizzerias. The tomato sauce is usually very basic and not very spicy. Many restaurants serve Cow's milk Mozzarella but in some restaurants the Mozzarella cheese served on the pizza is buffalo mozzarella mozzarella di bufala (a buffalo mozzarella with low moisture content is preferred) Sometimes buffalo Mozzarella is served for an added price. Roman specialties include:

Pizza romana: mozzarella, tomato anchovies, oil and oregano.
Pizza viennese: mozzarella, tomato, German sausage, oregano and oil
Pizza capricciosa: mozzarella, tomato, artichokes, mushrooms, cooked ham, olives and oil
Pizza ai Quattro Formaggi : Mozzarella (ideally buffalo milk) , Gorgonzola, and two other cheeses: stracchino, Fontina, Riccota or Asiago.

There are also "White Pizzas" or Pizza Bianca that are not tomato sauce based. The basic Pizza Bianca is usually like a type of bread topped with salt and olive oil. Sometimes you can find it with other toppings such as rosemary sprigs, potatos or even figs (pizza e fichi). For those of you who do not eat dairy products this can be a great option.A trick taught to me by a local is to add a pinch of salt to your pizza; this brings out all the flavors.A delicious starter to wet your appetite while waiting for your Pizza is a Mozzarella filled rice ball called Suppli.

My Suggested Pizza Places in Rome:

Pizzeria Da Baffetto
A must to visit -  legendary, proper original Roman pizzeria near Piazza Navona in Rome
Address: Via del Governo Vecchio, 114, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Pizza Remo in Testaccio
Here you will find a very thin crusted Pizza. The place is only open after 7:00 pm and very popular with the locals.
Piazza Santa Maria della Liberatrice. The Pizzeria is closed on Sundays.

Pizzeria Florida
In the dead center of the historical part of Rome you can find this delicious pizza al taglio. Try to come before 13:00 when the place is packed.
Via florida 25, near Largo Argentina

Pizza ai marmi
If you come after 8:00 pm you'll see lines of locals and tourists on the street It's Really worth while a visit just to see the young trendy Romans enjoy their Pizza.
Viale Trastevere 53, 00153 Rome, Italy (Trastevere)

Buon Appettito!