World Pizza Day, 5 must-have pizzas for winter

January 17 marks the celebration of World Pizza Day, an international event celebrating one of the world's most beloved Italian dishes: pizza!

A long-standing tradition, it celebrates "the art of the Neapolitan pizza maker" which entered UNESCO's World Heritage List as an intangible asset of humanity in 2017, thus enshrining a dish that is a well-established symbol of the Italian spirit with its artisanal preparation and attention to every detail. 

Given the time of year, there's no better way to celebrate this day than to enjoy a delicious high-quality pizza! Discover our top 5 pizzas for a winter day!

The 5 best pizzas for a winter day: our ranking

Who doesn’t enjoy trying dozens of types of pizzas throughout our lives, each with different dough and toppings?!

From the classics to the gourmet, from homemade pizzas to fanciful varieties, even those most faithful to traditional flavors have occasionally been drawn in by pizza makers who enjoy offering up their own twists, experimenting with tasty and original flavor pairings. Or, perhaps you can try your hand with some homemade recipes that anyone can attempt, using a little bit of determination and a few small tricks. Here are a few ideas!

5) Artichoke, potato, and Pecorino Romano PDO pizza

A pizza that tastes like Rome, with artichokes cooked according to the authentic Roman recipe: with mint (or parsley) and an hour-long final braising. Add some shaved Pecorino Romano PDO and thinly sliced potatoes and you're all set!

4) Pizza alla parmigiana

The legendary eggplant parmesan (parmigiana di melanzane) gets a unique pizza twist using fior di latte mozzarella, tomato sauce, slices of eggplant parmesan, and basil leaves. The result? A magnificent ensemble of Mediterranean flavors for a mouthwateringly hearty pizza!

3) Broccoli, gorgonzola and walnut pizza

Take the classic gorgonzola and walnut pizza, and add one of winter's most popular vegetables for this seasonal variation. We suggest blanching the broccoli, using a little water to reduce it to a cream, and then crumbling a few florets over the top as a finishing garnish. 

2) The ultimate Valtellinese pizza

When you think of pizza with ingredients from the valley of Valtellina, the first thing you think of is a bresaola pizza. For our list of the best winter pizzas, bresaola is paired with Bitto PDO, an aged semi-hard cheese produced exclusively in the mountain pastures of the province of Sondrio and some neighboring towns in the Upper Brembana Valley.

1) Pizza with honey mushrooms and wild boar salami

Pecorino Romano PDO and fior di latte mozzarella return once more, accentuating this wintry pizza with honey mushrooms and thin slices of wild boar salami — leaner than pure pork salami — drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. Try it and see!World 

Pizza Day: why January 17?

We leave you with an interesting bit of trivia. The date of World Pizza Day was not chosen at random: in fact, January 17 is the feast day of St. Anthony Abbot, the patron saint of pizza makers. Did you know?

Happy Pizza Day!