01/28/2026
Pizza Napoletana at Noto.
VPN Certification #974
VPN stands for Verace Pizza Napoletana (“True Neapolitan Pizza”).
The Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (AVPN) is the official governing body, founded in Naples in 1984, that protects and regulates the tradition.
As a restaurant that is VPN-certified, we must follow strict standards, including:
Dough & Ingredients
• Approved Italian ingredients
• Specific hydration, salt, and yeast ratios
• No fats or sugars added to the dough
• Hand-stretched dough only
Fermentation
• Controlled fermentation times (often 48+ hours)
• Focus on dough maturity and digestibility
Pizza Making
• Dough balls formed by hand
• Topped in a precise order
• Baked directly on the oven floor
Oven & Baking
• Wood-fired oven only
• Certified oven design
• Bake time under 90 seconds at oven temperatures of 1000 degrees
Training & Inspection
• Restaurants are inspected before certification and subject to standards afterward
Why VPN Certification Matters
• It guarantees authenticity, not just style
• It preserves centuries-old Neapolitan tradition
• It signals craftsmanship, discipline, and respect for ingredients
