The classic pizza made with tomato, mozzarella, and basil is called Margherita. Its red, white, and green toppings are commonly associated with the colors of the Italian flag.
Pizza Margherita is a Neapolitan pizza prepared with a thin, soft base, tomatoes, mozzarella, fresh basil, and usually extra-virgin olive oil. Traditional versions may use San Marzano tomatoes or other recognized Neapolitan tomato varieties, along with mozzarella di bufala campana or fior di latte.
A popular story says that Neapolitan pizzaiolo Raffaele Esposito created the pizza for Queen Margherita of Savoy during her 1889 visit to Naples. The story’s details and the famous letter associated with it are disputed by later researchers. Earlier Neapolitan pizzas with these ingredients were already documented, so the queen may have helped popularize the name rather than inventing the combination.
Marinara is a different classic Neapolitan pizza made with tomato, garlic, oregano, and oil but no cheese. Quattro Stagioni and Capricciosa use broader assortments of toppings.