The pizza from Marseille

A popular speciality

The pizza has become a real popular speciality in Marseille. Introduced by Napolitans in 1900, this is a convivial dish which quickly found its place in our culture and history of Marseille.

A kind of Naples in Marseille

We often say: Marseille looks like Naples. And for good reason ! At the end of the 19th century, napolitan families flee pauperisation of the south of Italy and settle down in Marseille, more precisely in Saint-Jean district between the Saint Laurent Church and the city hall in the Panier area.

Houses of ‘ la petite Naples’ were dynamited by the Germans in 1943, but families had enough time making pizza an institution in the gastronomy of Marseille.

This popular speciality was invented in the 18 th century and its main ingredients are : tomatoes, mozzarella, garlic and olives oil.

Everyone got his own pizza !

There were several waves of migration in Marseille. And we can even see that in its pizza evolution.

The Corsica pizza with ‘Figatelli’ and whey cheese ‘brousse’
The Armenian pizza with minced steak, pepper with lemon juice
The Kabab pizza with its white sauce
And a newbie : the Eurasienne pizza ( Franceschi’s)

But undeniably the most popular pizza is what we named ‘moitié/moitié’ which means half part of cheese and half part of anchovies. In Marseille, we don’t really use ‘mozarella’ but ’emmental’ instead: a provencal touch.

You can also ask for ‘ pili-pili’ a misused term for ‘piri-piri’ (portugese) which is a hot seasoning. It’s only olive oil with rosemary, red pepper and marinated thyme.

You just need to add some on your pizza slice but ‘Méfi’ (watch out) It can be so hot !

A slice for everyone

The pizza is also a perfect snack: whenever you are in Marseille, you can bet you can still find a ‘camion pizza’ (Pizza truck). There are 52 all around the city on 250 locations mainly closed to places where people gather.

The Pizza truck was invented in Marseille in 1962 and they play a major role in our landscape. It is a kind of a neighborhood bar. We talk about our pizza choices, we order and wait for them nearby, just chatting..A real social link !

You can eat these warm and dripping slices, sitting, standing or even walking !

And not always during lunch or dinner time !

The Pizza truck is a representative of freedom !

To learn more