Origins of Pizza Pizza was first documented in the town of Gaeta in southern Italy. It may have its origins in focaccia which is a flat bread that was eaten during the Roman period, while the modern pizza developed in Naples Italy in the 18th century when tomatoes was put onto the focaccia. Pizza was generally only eaten by native Italians or by Italians immigrants such as Italian Americans. However this all changed after the allied invasion of Italy in World War 2 when allied soldiers stationed in southern Italy came to enjoy the local foods such as pizza. Archaeologists excavating Pompeii have discovered flat cakes made out of flour that were a popular dish in Pompeii as well as nearby Naples. Archaeologists also found tools and equipment in shops that are similar to tools used today to make pizza in pizzerias. We even have a cookbook from the Roman period that contains some pizza recipes. In the 6th century BC soldiers of the Persian king Darius I were reported to