It is a sad day in Naples, and indeed all of the pizza-loving world. Early this morning, Pizzeria Sorbillo Gino Sorbillo’s pizzeria on Via dei Tribunali in the heart of Naples’ centro antico was severely damaged by fire. The cause of the fire, which started around 3am, is unknown at the moment, though there is already widespread speculation that the Camorra was involved.

Gino Sorbillo, one of Italy’s most public food figures, had this to share with Luciano Pignataro: “The thing that is most painful is having lost photos of my grandma Esterina and all the historical photographs that hung on the walls. I can rebuild the pizzeria, but not the images that recount the history of pizza in Naples.”

Gino told Ansa that he felt the support of the neighborhood in this dark time, “My family is united and I feel the love of the neighborhood. People came out into the street to support me last night. I am going to try to rebuild in record time and give this city back its pizzeria.”

Photo credit: Sergio Siano