Pizza Margherita Name Origin Myth Debunked; Queen’s 1889 Visit Not First Creation

The widely told story claims that in June 1889 Queen Margherita of Savoy visited Naples, prompting the royal court at Capodimonte to ask pizza maker Raffaele Esposito of Pizzeria Brandi to create a dish in her honor. Esposito allegedly prepared three pizzas, and the queen chose the one displaying the red tomato, white mozzarella and green basil colors of the Italian flag, after which it was named Pizza Margherita and a thank‑you letter was displayed at the restaurant.

Recent historical and literary research, however, shows that a pizza with tomato, mozzarella and basil was already common in Naples decades earlier, with documented references dating from 1796‑1810 and specific sources from 1830, 1849 and 1866. Scholars conclude the Brandi claim is an urban legend rather than fact.