italian cuisine has become an integral part of brazilian gastronomy since the first italians started to arrive in the last half of the 19th century - attracted to brazil in response to the growing need for workers on the coffee plantations, and often subsidized, these immigrants were also escaping the changes that were sweeping italy at the time.

with any large migration, it was natural for the new peoples to initially bring their native 'comfort' foods along with them and thus the preponderance of foods like risotto, pasta, polenta, pizza, calzone, ossobuco and milanesa are found throughout the country of brazil.

pizza is quite popular in brazil and an average restaurant in rio de janeiro will have over 50 types of pizzas available - be prepared however that although there will be many choices, the standard cheese used on the pizza will be different.