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16 tasty options for pizza near the pope

Hard to top these options.

If the last time you set foot in Center City Philadelphia was 1979 - during the visit of Pope John Paul II - you're in for a surprise.

I refer to the pizza scene, which back then had sadly lagged behind those in other cities - notably New York's (as New Yorkers gleefully pointed out) and, well, Rome's (whose own pizza scene is not half-bad, right?).

While the pizza in other parts of the city is going strong (Marra's, Grace & Pat's, and Brigantessa in East Passyunk, for example), here are options within a reasonable walk of the World Meeting of Families and papal activities.

I cannot steer you to the award-winning Pizzeria Beddia in Fishtown, only because Joe Beddia has decided to close for the weekend.

Blackbird (506 S. 6th St., Society Hill)
A true, downscale pizzeria just a few steps off of South Street that happens to serve an all-vegan menu that extends to Philly-style sandwiches and rich desserts.

Bufad (1240 Spring Garden St., Loft District)
Creative, Neapolitan pies at an industrial-chic corner spot. Those with hearty appetites should request  L'Abbuffata, as in "the binge" - a $25-a-person, five-course feeding for everyone at the table.

Capofitto (233 Chestnut St., Old City, above)
A Neapolitan pizzeria from the folks behind Philly's world-famous Capogiro gelato. The storefront in the middle of the historic district opens into a gelateria and behind that, a bar serving Italian beers and wines, and behind that, a sweetly decorated dining room.

LaScala's (615 Chestnut St., Washington Square West)
Homestyle Italian-American food and thin-crust, deck-oven pies. "Eh" wine list. It's down the street from Independence Hall, at the corner of Seventh and Chestnut Streets, which may make it the closest shop to the Liberty Bell. (N.B. There's also a grab-and-go counter at the Shops at Comcast Center, next to Suburban Station.)

Lorenzo's (305 South St., South Street)
A slice from an 18-inch pie at this South Street institution is sometimes wrapped around a whole cheesesteak from Jim's Steaks (at the next corner, 4th and South) to create a sinfully gluttonous, get-the-Tums creation called a Philly Taco. It's a good value and open till 4 a.m. all weekend.

Luigi's Pizza Fresca (2401 Fairmount Ave., Fairmount)
My pizzeria of choice among the Fairmount crowd, especially when all you need is a slice of pepperoni. An old-fashioned, no-frills pizzeria in the (long) shadow of the Art Museum.

Nomad Pizza (617 S. 7th St., above) and its offshoot Nomad Roman (1305 Locust St.)
Uncompromisingly fine, brick-oven Neapolitan pizza and beer (at the 7th Street location, off South Street) and thin-crust Roman style pizza/bar at its offshoot in Washington Square West.

Osteria (640 N. Broad St., Spring Garden)
The Vetri Family's upmarket Italian restaurant's traditional and Neapolitan-style pies are classics, notably the Lombarda, topped with baked egg, bitto cheese, mozzarella and cotechino sausage, and beg for a pairing with wine.

Pietro's (1714 Walnut St., Rittenhouse, and 121 South St., South Street)
New York style, thin-crust pies from a coal-fired oven, and it's a multipurpose concept: dates, bar hoppers, business people, families.

Pizzeria Stella (420 S. 2nd St., Society Hill, above)
Stephen Starr's family-friendly pizzeria/bar, on a corner just above South Street. Beautiful Neapolitan pies, including the fontina-topped Pistachio and the Tartufo, whose whole egg and black truffle create an indulgence.

Pizzeria Vetri (1939 Callowhill St. and 1615 Chancellor St.)
The Vetri Family's moderate-priced, industrial-cool Neapolitan bar/pizzerias - one near the Parkway and the other tucked on a Rittenhouse back street. It's not a pizza, technically, but you will do yourself a serious disservice by failing to order a Rotolo (above) - mortadella, ricotta, and pistachio pesto rolled into pizza dough, like a savory bun.

Rosa's Fresh (25 S. 11th St., Washington Square West)
You're doing good by ordering a $1 slice (or two or three) at this cheery shop just off 11th and Market Streets. Owner Mason Wartman banks patron contributions, and regularly feeds Philadelphia's hungry.

SliCe (1740 Sansom St., Rittenhouse, other locations)
Great ingredients help sell the thin-crust, well-done pies at this plain-Jane walk-up in the heart of Center City. Slices are available; it's open till 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Square Pie (801 E. Passyunk Ave., Queen Village)
Thick-crust Brooklyn-style pizza (a close cugino of Sicilian) is the claim to fame of this red-checked-tablecloth corner spot, which just found a new home a half-block from its original location. (Admittedly, this location is a bit of an outlier - a 15-minute walk from Independence Mall.)

Zavino (112 S. 13th St., Washington Square West, above, other location in University City)
Cute cafe and a great pun (pizZA and VINO) on a Midtown Village corner. Creative pizza and small plates (oven-roasted Brussels sprouts, anyone?), coupled with great people-watching.

Zio's (111 S. 13th St., Washington Square West)
A fine, under-the-radar, all-purpose pizzeria in Midtown Village, serving both thin-crust and Sicilian pizzas, sandwiches, and platters.

For options that may require a bus or subway ride, check VisitPhilly's rundown of 34 pizzerias.