Pizza Pilgrims |Start the Pilgrimage across Italy at Reggio Calabria

1. Reggio di Calabria

The start of the adventure

Where it all began, we collect the Ape van and discover the raw power of its 219cc engine.

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A firm handshake for the man who sold us our trusty Ape van.

The first pizza of our Pilgrimage - a RyanAir special!

We have Ape Key. The Pilgrimage is on!

Conchetta - our Ape Van - in all her glory.

Leave the gun, take the Cannoli.

2. Spilinga

Nduja

Up in the Calabrian hills - we first taste Nduja spicy sausage, the pizza ingredient of kings.

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"Bet you couldn't fit a whole Nduja in your mouth..."

Salute!

"Lookin' back, on the track, for a little green bag..."

If only this photo was bigger - you could see the Nduja Thom is holding

3. Scalea

Red chilis

A spicy day with Guiseppe, learning everything there is to know about pepperoncino

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That's your classic box of chilis that is.

Calabria are very proud of their chili

Deadly serious.

Handle with care.

A chili panorama.

A photo of a photo of Thom trying a chili

Calabrian sunset over the Ape

4. Sarno

Tomatoes

Tasting the famous San Marzano tomatoes of the Vesuvian foothills - and meeting our pizza guru Antonino Esposito.

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San Marzano close up.

Recycling your Coke bottles.

One massive ball of Mozzarella.

More tomato close ups...

The man, the legend - Antonino Esposito.

Burn baby burn.

Pizza lessons with Antonino

Wizard - you shall not pass!

Antonio's Neapolitan pizza

Finally we get to taste.

Moody shot of the bay of Naples

5. Capri

Limoncello

Limoncello on the beautiful island of Capri - if only it would ever stop raining…

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Limoncello shopping.

Nice and sunny in Capri

These guys totally get it

That's one big lemon.

The grove of dreams.

6. Naples

Neapolitan Pizza

This is it - the home of pizza. The first of many pilgrimages to the crazy, brilliant world of Naples.

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The Ape finally makes it to Naples

Da Michele menu - simplicity itself

Napoli Pizza School

Molino Caputo - where all great pizza starts its life

The Caputo flour laboratory

Thom standing at the pizza station in Da Michele.

Luigi - the man at the forefront of Da Michele

Backstreets of Naples

Learning to make Pizza Fritta in the Naples backstreets

Pizza Fritta!

The 5 star pizza

Rum Baba - as far as the eye can see!

The Spanish Quarter in Naples

Naples

Subtle Italian advertising

The pizza box now on display in Kingly Court

The seal of approval you are after.

Arty scooter shot.

Waiting to go into Da Michele.

Thom and James with Team Da Michele!

7. Caserta

Mozzarella

Buffalo Mozzarella - starting with the buffalo themselves. We still import all our mozzeralla from Caserta.

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Getting in with the water buffalo

Baby Buffalo. Cute!

Conchetta - the legend we named our van after!

Making Buffalo Mozzarella

The finished artilcle.

Buffalo Mozzarella balls soaking in brine

A pizza, made entirely out of Mozzarella!

The queen of Mozzarella - Rosanna Marziale

The Buffalo farmer

8. Gaeta

Tiella Pizza Pie

The Italian version of a kebab! Pizza pie in the truest sense of the world, we are introduced to the Tiella.

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Parked outside the Tiella shop

Floury clap

Share and share alike...

The Italian version of a kebab shop!

A tiella pizza pie

Amateur photography...

Our first Tiella signed and delivered...

9. Rome

Roman Pizza

Thinner, crispier - the Romans have their own spin on what a pizza is all about…

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Perfectly fitting T Shirts

A quiet night out in Roma

Pizza Al Taglio - the Pizzarium is a must try in Rome.

Pizzeria Montecarlo in Roma

Early branding work

With the pizza chef

James getting stuck in.

We found the Irish pub!

10. Montepulciano

Wine

Wine cellars in the hills - Montepulciano is a hilltop Tuscan dreamzone.

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Bitesized Ape.

Red wine - straight from the source.

The Ape in Montepulciano

Classic gag that one...

Not too shabby a view

The wine cellars

11. Pontedera

Piaggio Ape

The birthplace of our beloved van Concetta - we see the Piaggio factory in all its glory.

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With Tommaso - the man who helped us get on the road

Waiting for my chauffeur

The first ever Ape!

An Ape fire engine

Sleek Italian can design

The original!

Conchetta close up

12. Pisa

Olive Oil

Another Italian stalwart - fresh pressed Olive Oil is a total incredible experience (and makes you cough).

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Dinner is served

All this pilgrimaging is hard work.

Understanding Biodynamic production - it is complicated stuff

The olive oil farmer

Fresh pressed olive oil

OIlves heading off for pressing

It had to be done...

Olive picking!

Biodynamic olive oil farmer.

13. Lucca

The inspiration

We visit the cooking school where James first had the idea of putting a pizza oven in an Ape van…

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Dining Al Fresco

Gianluca - where the dream truly began.

Needs must.

On the road again...

14. Modena

Balsamic Vinegar

Balsamic vinegar is a 25 year labour of love - but tasting the real thing is an almost trancendental experience…

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Aceteria La Noce - home of Balsamic

Balsamic Vinegar barrels

The power shot

With the Team from La Once

Dolph Lundgren. Of course.

15. Reggio Emilia

Parmesan

One of Italy's most famous products - and one that forms a fundamental part of Neapolitan pizza.

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Maturing parmensan cheeses

All part of a balanced diet.

Parmesan after 1, 2 and 3 years of ageing

Lab coats are a must

Parmesan as far as the eye can see

16. Parma

Parma Ham

Parma ham - getting behind the science of a good cured ham (lab coats and all).

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Down the hatch...

Parma ham maturing nicely

Quick quality check - give it a prod.

A well earned beer...

More lab coats. Again - totally essential

17. Recco

Foccacia

It's focaccia Jim, but not as we know it…

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Making Focaccia di Recco (It was Mario's bday too!)

Finishing touches

One massive focaccia

Look at all that straccino cheese...

18. Genoa

Basil

Basil and pizza are like peas and carrots, so we head off to meet a world Basil champion, naturally…

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Basil basil everywhere.

World Pesto Champion!

About 10 pizzas worth there...

Making pesto.

Every students staple right there.

19. Turin

Chocolate

Living every 8 years olds dream touring a chocolate factory - and the inspiration for our Nutella ring.

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Smile - you own a chocolate shop!

Willy Wonka eat your heart out.

Living every 8 year old's dream.

Truffles!