Pizzeria della Passeggiata, a venture between two cousins ​​in a small village in Lazio

Pizzeria della Passeggiata in Priverno is run by two young people who have taken over the family business and brought a modern pizza style to this town in the mountains of the province of Latina, reinterpreting traditional delicacies.

Even in small towns lesser-known to the big city crowd, you can find someone who manages to make their culinary voice heard with quality ideas and projects that deserve to be talked about. This is the case with Pizzeria della Passeggiata, opened in 2022 in Priverno, a town in the Amaseno Valley in the province of Latina, by cousins ​​Antonio Visentin and Giammarco Ambrifi. Here, the two pizza chefs offer their take on pizza with creativity and meticulous attention to ingredients, successfully combining modern style with local gastronomic culture.

How Pizzeria della Passeggiata in Priverno Was Born

Antonio and Gianmarco began their journeys on two paths far from flour, before finally "returning home." Antonio graduated with a degree in Business Management, while Gianmarco graduated with a degree in Political Science, but the emotional pull of the family business was so strong that they couldn't give it up. "Our mothers (Nadia and Pina Scalesse)," Gianmarco tells us, "had a takeaway pizzeria in Priverno since 1985, and we grew up there, so much so that we're cousins, but it's like we were brothers. We've shared many things together, from university to work, but the thing that binds us most is definitely pizza, and so we can only put our hearts into this project." In 2018, Antonio began his first experience behind the counter, and Gianmarco specialized in acrobatic pizza. The real turning point came in 2022, when the two decided to move the family business to a new, larger space, opening the Pizzeria della Passeggiata, where they added another focal point: round pizza. "Our business began with pan pizza," explains Antonio, "but from the first round pizzas we offered, we realized we were offering a valuable product. Our dough, similar to Neapolitan pizza but with different characteristics, was immediately a novelty for Priverno, and the excellent response encouraged us to continue along this path and experiment even more."

Pizza from Pizzeria della Passeggiata in Priverno

The new location is designed to showcase both aspects of the pizzeria: upon entering, we're greeted by a large counter displaying baking sheets, before moving into a large, cleanly and tastefully furnished room, capable of seating up to 120 people in the evenings, with an open kitchen and oven. For their pizza, Antonio and Gianmarco use five different doughs, favoring a high-hydration round pizza (73-75%) with stone-ground type 0 flour and a minimum 24-hour maturation period. The result is a Neapolitan-style pizza, but with a crispy crust, creating a delightful interplay of light and melting textures.

The menu offers a range from the comfort zone of the traditional "Classics," to the more complex "Authentic" (like the Violetta, with purple potato cream, fior di latte, guanciale, purple potato chips, and Pecorino Romano DOP fondue – €9.50), and finally to the "Pizze d'Autore," the two pizza chefs' true creative signature. Among these is the Genovese di Bufalo, where the buffalo meat is cooked at a low temperature for several hours and the rich flavor of the Genovese, fior di latte, and Marzolina (a typical local cheese and a Slow Food Presidium) is balanced by the acidity of lemon gel and the scent of mint (€12). As in the case of Marzolina, the choice of raw materials aims to pay homage to the gastronomic culture of the area: in fact, the various toppings include several excellent products, many Slow Food Presidia, such as Conciato Romano and Chiacchietegli di Priverno (a variety of local broccoli) and gems from small producers in the area, such as the EVO oils from the Alfredo Cetrone farm in Sonnino and the Frantoio Orsini in Priverno.

Antonio and Gianmarco also show flair when it comes to fried foods, sharing memories of home-cooked flavors with their lasagna, broccoli, and sausage (€3.50), wrapped in crispy breadcrumbs and topped with a Marzolina reduction and dried broccoli. For wine pairings, a sommelier is always available to recommend, ranging from glasses showcasing native grape varieties, representative Italian labels, and Italian and French sparkling wines.

The tasting menu and the rediscovery of Falia

"Evolution of Margherita" is the name of the new tasting menu (€40 per person, with wine pairing) at Pizzeria della Passeggiata, which invites diners to explore different nuances of the most famous pizza and showcases the talent and identity of two young pizza chefs. It begins with a classic supplì, then continues with a slice of traditional Margherita, and finally introduces the third course to the first reinterpretation with the Margherita Scomposta (San Marzano DOP tomatoes, burrata, lemon zest, basil, and single-variety extra virgin olive oil from the Alfredo Cetrone farm). The creative bar is raised with the Pensiero di Margherita, which creates an interesting interplay of flavors, with the acidity of the tomato chutney softened by a quenelle of buffalo buttermilk ice cream, while basil is added in the form of a coulis. The last of the Margheritas on the menu is the Illusione di Margherita. If you close your eyes while taking a bite, the taste is strongly reminiscent of a traditional Margherita, but the surprise comes when you discover the ingredients: stewed kiwi sauce, beurre blanc, fermented kiwis, basil, and organic single-variety EVO oil from the Orsini mill, thanks to a clever balance, they become a true Margherita on the palate.

To conclude the tasting, we find an ancient Priverno specialty, Falia, to which Gianmarco and Antonio have given a special role, reinterpreting it as a dessert. This leavened bread, halfway between bread and focaccia, with its characteristic "gobbe" (which the two boys remember from childhood Sunday lunches, eaten with cured meats), is filled with ricotta, cinnamon, and artisanal dark chocolate.

Pizzeria della Passeggiata. Via Giacomo Matteotti 101, Priverno (LT). Tel. 0773 902865. Instagram.