The ''friggitoria'' ("fryer" in English; : ''friggitorie'') is a shop that sells fried foods. They are found throughout

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

. ''Friggitorie'' are common in

Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...

, especially in the historic center, where you can buy fried foods including ''pastacresciute'' (savory ''

zeppole Zeppole (; : ''zeppola'') are Italian pastries consisting of a deep-fried dough ball of varying size but typically about in diameter. These fritters are usually topped with powdered sugar, and may be filled with custard, jelly, cannoli-st ...

''), ''scagliozzi'' (fried

polenta Polenta (, ) is an Italian cuisine, Italian dish of boiled cornmeal that was historically made from other grains. It may be allowed to cool and solidify into a loaf that can be baked, fried or Grilling, grilled. The variety of cereal used is ...

), ''sciurilli'' (fried

zucchini Zucchini (; : ''zucchini'' or ''zucchinis''), courgette () or ''Cucurbita pepo'' is a summer squash, a Vine, vining herbaceous plant whose fruit are harvested when their immature seeds and Fruit anatomy#Epicarp, epicarp (rind) are still soft a ...

blossoms In botany, blossoms are the flowers of stone fruit trees (genus ''Prunus'') and of some other plants with a similar appearance that flower profusely for a period of time in spring. Colloquially, flowers of orange are referred to as such as we ...

), fried eggplant and '' crocchè'' (potato fritters). Outside of Naples, the ''friggitorie'' are also widespread in other areas. In

Liguria Liguria (; ; , ) is a Regions of Italy, region of north-western Italy; its Capital city, capital is Genoa. Its territory is crossed by the Alps and the Apennine Mountains, Apennines Mountain chain, mountain range and is roughly coextensive with ...

, these shops were formerly common in the Sottoripa area, in front of the port of

Genoa Genoa ( ; ; ) is a city in and the capital of the Italian region of Liguria, and the sixth-largest city in Italy. As of 2025, 563,947 people live within the city's administrative limits. While its metropolitan city has 818,651 inhabitan ...

, though a few still remain, and in

Palermo Palermo ( ; ; , locally also or ) is a city in southern Italy, the capital (political), capital of both the autonomous area, autonomous region of Sicily and the Metropolitan City of Palermo, the city's surrounding metropolitan province. The ...

, where ''friggatore'', sometimes street vendors, prepare dishes like ''

panelle ''Panella'' (: ''panelle'') is a Sicilian fritter made with chickpea flour and other ingredients, usually including water, salt, pepper, olive oil, and finely chopped parsley. They are a popular street food in the city of Palermo and are ofte ...

''.

Foods commonly sold at ''friggatorie''

* ''

Arancini Arancini (, , ; ; : ''arancino''), also known as ''arancine'' (: ''arancina''), are Italian rice balls that are stuffed, coated with breadcrumbs and deep-fried. They are a staple of Sicilian cuisine. The most common arancini fillings are ''a ...

'' * ''

Calzone Calzone is an Italian oven-baked folded pizza. A typical calzone is made from salted bread dough, baked in an oven and stuffed with prosciutto or salami, mozzarella or ricotta, and Parmesan or pecorino, as well as an egg. Different regio ...

'' * '' Crocchè'' * ''

Panelle ''Panella'' (: ''panelle'') is a Sicilian fritter made with chickpea flour and other ingredients, usually including water, salt, pepper, olive oil, and finely chopped parsley. They are a popular street food in the city of Palermo and are ofte ...

'' * '' Panissa'' * '' Pizza fritta''

References

{{reflist Cuisine of Sicily Neapolitan cuisine Street food in Italy