Neapolitan pizza making wins world heritage status

JEJU, South Korea: The art of Neapolitan pizza making won world heritage status on Thursday, joining a horse-riding game from Iran and Dutch wind mills on UNESCO’s culture list. UNESCO accepted the art of Neapolitan “pizzaiuoli,” or pizza makers, on the world body’s list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. “Congratulations #Italy!” it said in a tweet after a meeting in Jeju, South Korea where the decision was made. Italy argued the practice of the “pizzaiuoli” - preparing and flipping the dough, topping it and baking it in a wood-fired oven - was part of the country’s cultural and gastronomic tradition. In Rome, pizzeria owner Romano Fiore celebrated the decision. “I am honoured, like all Italians and Neapolitans are. . . pizza has centuries of history,” he said.