Naples, the pizzeria that invented the Margherita closed by the Nas

All news today 20 October

Closed by Nas and Asl, this morning in Naples, the Antica Pizzeria Brandi, one of the most renowned historical places in the city where, according to tradition, the Margherita pizza was invented in 1889. On social media, with a multilingual post also translated into Arabic and Chinese, the Brandi pizzeria announces that it will be closed today and tomorrow “for extraordinary maintenance”.

The closure

According to what has been learned, the authorities during an inspection in August had found hygienic-sanitary deficiencies and imposed prescriptions, with respect to which today the restaurant would have been found in default. The restaurant was closed at the disposal of the health authorities but work is being carried out inside to comply with the prescriptions of the Nas and the ASL in order to reopen.

President of the True Neapolitan Pizza Association: “Provision affects the entire system”

“The measure affects not only Brandi, but the story of Margherita and an entire system that revolves around pizza and which has recovered from three years of suffering, first for the pandemic and then for the expensive bill”, reflects Antonio Pace, president of the True Neapolitan Pizza Association. “I do not know the merits of the alleged defaults – says Pace – but it seems to me a severe measure. I think we could have been less energetic and allowed a little more time to comply”. The president of the association fears the image damage for the whole category: “This is a measure that will go around the world. It would not have made the news if it had concerned any place, but here we are faced with the history of pizza that in Brandi an exceptional testimonial. In the coming weeks I am expected in Canada and Japan and I would not be surprised if the uproar had also arrived there “.

The pizzeria

The Antica Pizzeria Brandi is located uphill Sant’Anna di Palazzo, in Chiaia, the city’s good living room: inside it is placed a plaque commemorating, in 1989, the 100 years since the creation of the first Margherita pizza in the place. Reported and surveyed by tourist guides from around the world, the place also boasts the title of “oldest pizzeria in the world”, opened in 1760.

The announcement of the reopening in the coming days

The regulars show solidarity with the staff and the owner, Eduardo Pagnani, who announces a press release from his lawyer and hopes for a reopening very quickly, perhaps as early as next weekend. His collaborators minimize the extent of the reliefs: it would be a water infiltration in a room, some broken tiles and the failure to comply with the law of the bin for collecting the glass.