Italian pizzeria in Krivaya Beryoza reopened, but not everyone is happy about it

Krivaya Beryoza is located 30 km from Minsk. Several small shops, a kindergarten, about 800 residents. Paolo's house is almost on the very outskirts, near the forest; the entire street has only eight houses. You wouldn't immediately notice the "Papacha Pizza" sign on one of them. On one side of the house there's a pile of sand, on the other — firewood, the terrace faces a field... It seems there's no excitement or hungry customers.

Initially, a real sensation both in the village and on social media was caused by Paolo Antonio Vene starting to bake Italian pizza in a wood-fired oven here in May 2025. He met his Belarusian wife Alina online, first moved to Minsk, then to Krivaya Beryoza.

In May 2026, the Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade banned the use of the phrase "We cook the best pizza in your city" in advertising. The violation was rectified, but soon Paolo announced that he was closing the pizzeria forever. Then he broke the news: there was a big discord in their family, and he was practically packing his bags for Italy, but just over a month passed — and now the pizzeria has reopened.

"There are already many orders. But we only work by pre-order – specifically to avoid creating a queue," explains Alina.

The queues were mentioned for a reason: the Italian complained about envious people who "made false accusations about inconveniences caused by customers."

"They personally don't bother me, I live on the next street," says a local resident. "But their neighbors complained that when cars were constantly arriving, they blocked the passage.

And sometimes, people would come from Minsk for pizza, wait for their order, walk their dogs near other people's yards, not everyone likes that."

"We take everyone's interests into account! — Alina says. — We close at 8 PM, sometimes even 7 PM, we don't sell any drinks, there are no tables, people just come, pick up their pizza, and leave. No one makes noise. Who could that bother? You know, at first we were so open, we invited everyone into the house, treated them to coffee, that's how Paolo was used to it in Italy. Now, after all the problems, we behave more reservedly, of course."

She added that when they closed, Paolo was so upset, he wanted to leave for Italy.

"But the children go to school here, it's not easy... And many advise: 'Just move to Minsk!' But why? Paolo says: 'If you make good pizza with love, people will come for it anywhere! Even to Krivaya Beryoza!'"

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