We’ve all got our culinary preferences, whether that’s all-you-can-eat or kale-everything. But one thing we can all agree on is the gloriousness of pizza: dough, cheese, tomato and toppings of your choice.

Maybe you’ve already tried the “most authentic pizza” in New York, or have a very reliable delivery service on speed dial, but having a religious pizza experience requires a plane ticket and a passport. You need to go straight to the source. You need to go to Italy. Whether you favor something light like a margherita or a pizza piled with meat (prosciutto, please!), “grabbing a slice” will never be the same after a trip to Italy. Have your first piece in Florence, then make your way down to Rome. Next stop Naples to grab a quick bite before having the last slice in Sicily. Then do it all over again on the way back.

A Street Style Slice in Florence

From the Duomo to the markets to the dolce vita vibes, Florence has a special way of enchanting its visitors. The joy of the city continues at Amici di Pointe Vecchio da Stefano. Like the name implies, this streetside pizza counter is just around the corner from the famous bridge, and when you stroll up to the ordering window, you’ll find Stefano, pizza maker and owner.

We recommend letting Stefano choose your pizza for you – you could end up with sundried tomato pizza or even potato or eggplant. The crust will be fluffy and light, and the sauce sweet, simple and fresh. Grab a seat on the sidewalk facing the water, pizza in one hand, a cup of Chianti in the other while you scout out the nearest gelato spot.

Authentically Roman in Rome

Eating at Pizzeria da Remo almost always means a long line up, but once you bite into the best “thin crust” pizza of your life, you’ll understand why. The intoxicating scent of the wood-burning oven fills the bustling restaurant, and vivacious servers whirl around plopping pizzas on the table with little grace, but tons of humor. The atmosphere says family dinner at Nonna’s. When it comes time to order, keep it simple with the margherita pizza – a thin crust like this means minimal toppings are needed.

If the idea of queuing up for dinner makes you lose your appetite, try the lesser-known Dar Poeta. This low-key spot has checkered table cloths and exposed-brick charm and serves the classic mouthwatering thin and light pizza too.

The Real Deal in Naples

The home of pizza takes its pies quite seriously. So much so that Neapolitan pizza was safeguarded in the EU as a Traditional Specialty Guaranteed Dish in 2009, standardizing the ingredients, size, and cooking method for any pizza claiming to be Neapolitan. The thin crust must be made with durum wheat flour and sea salt, and stretched by hand. And only two toppings are permitted – buffalo mozzarella and San Marazno tomatoes – before it’s tossed in a wood-fired oven on a stone slab.

L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele serves up the perfect Neapolitan pizza. The pizzeria is as loud and wild as the Naples streets it inhabits, and it might look familiar to you: Julia Roberts had a religious experience in this very spot in Eat Pray Love. The Condurro family has been making and serving their two types of pizza – marinara and margherita – between these walls since 1867 (that’s 145 years!), and stay true to their commitment to not to have any other “junk” on their perfect pizzas. We trust their opinion.

Square Style in Sicily 

We’ve saved the most unique pizza for last. While uber-thin crusts in Rome and Naples require minimal toppings, it’s a different ball game in Sicily, the home of sfincione – pizza made with a focaccia crust and a signature rectangle shape. Traditional ingredients here are tomato sauce, onions and anchovies topped with strong toma or caciocavallo cheese.

In the city of Catania you’ll find Il Covo, a small family-run restaurant with a beautiful streetside terrace. The menu boasts all sorts of Sicilian specialties from risotto to lasagna to pasta and, of course, pizza. If you love pizza with the salty taste of cured meat or fresh seafood, Il Covo has you covered. The thick, square crusts accommodate all of those goodies you love back home – but this time, they’re market fresh. True to the Sicilian way, the servers will make you feel like you’re one of the family, and you’ll leave with a very full belly and a smile from ear to ear.

Where to stay in Italy

Photographs: Rome – Alexander Mazurkevich / Shutterstock.com

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