After spending the day exploring the Carnival celebrations, there was no desire for a formal dinner or an elaborate restaurant. Sometimes, after hours on foot surrounded by crowds, music and parades, the best meal is simply a freshly prepared takeaway pizza enjoyed back at the motorhome.
That is exactly what happened at Il Laboratorio Della Pizza.
From the outside, the pizzeria appears modest and unpretentious, yet it quickly became one of the most pleasant food surprises of the journey. The pizzas were prepared to order using fresh dough and quality ingredients, with the kitchen working efficiently despite the increased demand created by the Carnival festivities.
What stood out immediately was the balance of the pizza itself. The base was thin without becoming dry, the crust remained light and well risen, while the ingredients retained their individual flavours rather than being overwhelmed by excessive cheese or tomato sauce. It was clearly a pizza made with care rather than simply assembled as quickly as possible.
After a full day surrounded by the noise and activity of the Carnival, returning to the motorhome with hot takeaway pizzas proved to be exactly the right decision. Instead of waiting in crowded restaurants, dinner became a quiet moment to relax while reflecting on the day’s experiences. Sometimes the simplest evenings become the most memorable.
Italy and Spain have very different pizza traditions. While Italian pizzerias generally focus on regional recipes and restrained toppings, Spain has developed its own style over recent decades, often combining Italian techniques with local ingredients and larger menus. Finding an independent pizzeria that still places clear emphasis on the dough itself is becoming increasingly uncommon, making places such as Il Laboratorio Della Pizza particularly rewarding to discover.
One little-known curiosity concerns takeaway pizza boxes. Modern corrugated cardboard pizza boxes were not originally developed in Italy but became widely standardised in North America during the second half of the twentieth century before spreading throughout Europe. The small plastic support sometimes found in the centre of the pizza, designed to stop the lid sticking to the cheese, was patented in 1985 and is commonly known in the industry as the pizza saver. Today, billions are manufactured every year despite being one of the least noticed objects associated with takeaway food.
Looking back, the evening was not memorable because it was luxurious. It was memorable because it marked the perfect end to a long day. Good pizza, no queues, no rush and the comfort of returning to the motorhome after one of the busiest days of the trip. Sometimes those are the meals that remain in the memory longest.