Primitive flatbreads enriched with toppings may date back to ancient times, but 18th-century Naples is the birthplace of pizza as we know it. The city's signature dish is a point of local pride, and the characteristics of a proper pizza — an elastic dough made from wheat flour, water, salt and yeast; baking in a wood-burning oven at around 900 degrees F; a round, raised-rimmed final product with a garnished center — are all prerequisites. There are even organizations like the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (VPN) that have successfully lobbied the European Union for an official definition of pizza Napoletana, while also certifying pizzerias worldwide that adhere to their standards. But not all pizzerias that embrace the spirit of Neapolitan pizza making are VPN-approved, and there are plenty of pizzerias in the U.S. and elsewhere, certified and otherwise, that make pizzas Naples would be proud of. Here are seven top stateside spots to get your fix.