UNESCO said Thursday that the art
of the Neapolitan 'Pizzaiuolo' (pizza maker) has been put on its
prestigious Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
"The practice originates in Naples, where around 3,000
Pizzaiuoli now live and perform, and plays a key role in
fostering social gatherings and intergenerational exchange,"
UNESCO said in a statement after a committee added 12 new
elements to the intangible list during a meeting in Jeju, South
Korea.
"Knowledge and skills related to the element are primarily
transmitted in the 'bottega' of the Pizzaiuolo, where young
apprentices can observe their master at work".
The news was met with delight in Italy.
"The art of the Neapolitan Pizzaiuolo is UNESCO Cultural
Heritage," said Agriculture Minister Maurizio Martina via
Twitter.
"Victory! Italy's food-and-wine identity is increasingly
protected around the world".
Farmers' association Coldiretti said that many pizzaiuoli
were showing off their acrobatic pizza spinning and tossing in
central Naples in celebration at the news.
"It is a just, deserved recognition of an old art, a symbol
of Naples and Italy around the world," said Domenico Raimondo,
the president of the consortium of the protection of
quality-assured DOP Campania buffalo mozzarella (Consorzio di
Tutela della mozzarella di bufala Campana DOP), a vital
ingredient in Neapolitan Margherita pizza.
"A new story starts today, one that is yet to be written,
which we will be part of even more proudly".
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