The first pizzeria in Germany is believed to have opened in Würzburg 70 years ago. Initially, the establishment was primarily frequented by American soldiers.
“Back then, nobody really understood what pizza was – myself included,” Janina Di Camillo shared with the Main-Post, a regional newspaper. The journey to success started when her husband Nicolino launched Würzburg’s first pizzeria in 1952.
The former Pizza restaurant is now renovated and called Capri Blaue Grotte. It is located in the Elefantengasse 1 in Würzburg and no longer specializes on Pizza alone.
Nicolino Di Camillo, often referred to as Nick or Nico, is believed to have drawn inspiration from American soldiers. He helped the cooks at an Army NCO Club in Nürnberg and during his time there, he encountered American GIs who expressed their longing for the pizza they had enjoyed in Chicago.
First came U.S. soldiers, then the Germans
With the money of their parents, the Di Camillos were able to open the restaurant in Würzburg in March of 1952, which is now known as the “Capri Blaue Grotto”. The restaurant quickly attracted attention in the city, first among the many American soldiers who were stationed there, and later also among the German people.
Nicolino Di Camillo (front left) with wife Janina (right) and new proprietor of the Capri Blaue Grotte (Photo by DAPD/Daniel Peter)
However, the original founders are no longer part of the restaurant’s operations: Nicolino Di Camillo passed away in 2015. The new proprietors have also shifted away from the traditional pizzeria model. The menu now features a weekly rotation that includes items like Käsespätzle, Rotbarschfilet, and Blutwurstravioli.
Angie, you may want to edit your Röntgen Story. He wasn’t born in that building, the labratory that he used was located there. He was born in Remscheid and grew up in the Netherlands.
OK, danke