What is fried pizza
In Rome, we are used to eating Roman pizza, low and well-done. Fried pizza is a typical food product of the central and southern regions of Italy, especially in Campania and Lazio. It is a pizza dough, usually made from flour, water, yeast and salt, that is fried in hot oil rather than baked in the oven. The result is a soft, golden dough, often rich and flavorful, topped with tomato sauce, basil, and a little grated cheese. But there are many other variations.
Historically, fried pizza originated in Naples after the war, when ingredients for classic pizza were scarce and wood-fired ovens often unusable due to war damage. Neapolitan women invented this variation!
Lazio villages that celebrate it
Three villages in Lazio dedicate days to celebrating fried pizza. Let’s see together when and what these places not far from Rome offer, ideal for a trip out of town.
Ciciliano
Ciciliano is a small village of just over a thousand inhabitants located in the province of Rome, about 40 km from the capital. It is part of the Prenestini Mountains, a hilly and rural area rich in history and traditions.
Here at the end of May the “fried pizza festival” is held. On Sunday, May 25, the day is entirely dedicated to fried pizza, stuffed with genuine ingredients and combinations for all tastes (including desserts). Nodini with Nutella, stuffed pizza, cold cuts, fries and drinks at lunch, snack and dinner.
Parking is free and the event is pet friendly.
Arsoli
Arsoli is located about 70 km east of Rome, perched on a hill in the Simbruini Mountains, and is nestled in a picturesque natural environment of woods, mountains and streams, perfect for hiking and outdoor activities.
The village has medieval origins, with traces of settlements as far back as Roman times. The Castello Massimo, a fortified aristocratic residence dating back to the 10th century, is worth seeing; today it can be visited and is often the site of cultural events.
Arsoli is known for its festivals, such as the Sagra della Pizza Fritta (Fried Pizza Festival) and the Festa di Primavera (Spring Festival), which attract visitors from all over the province. The festival includes food stands, music and entertainment.
San Giorgio a Liri
San Giorgio a Liri is an Italian town of about 2,940 inhabitants located in the province of Frosinone, in southern Lazio, between the Aurunci Mountains and the Liri River. The town is located in the so-called Valley of the Saints and is part of the Alta Terra di Lavoro, the northern side of the historic Terra di Lavoro region.
The “original Sagra della Pizza Fritta,” a fixture of the summer calendar (August), takes place here, with large crowds and a wide range of fried pizza variants on offer.