Poreč pizzaiolo Lega bakes 12,000 pizzas in 12 hours
Aleksandar Velenik from Poreč took part in breaking a Guinness World Record in Sant'Antonio Abate near Naples, where an international team prepared over 12,000 pizzas weighing 4,345.58 kilograms.
Aleksandar Velenik from Poreč took part in breaking a Guinness World Record in Sant'Antonio Abate near Naples, where an international team prepared over 12,000 pizzas weighing 4,345.58 kilograms.
Aleksandar Velenik, a pizzaiolo from Poreč known to locals as Lega, joined an international team in breaking a Guinness World Record by preparing over 12,000 pizzas in just 12 hours. This major culinary event took place in Sant'Antonio Abate near Naples and was officially recorded in the Guinness World Records for 2026.
The challenge aimed to bake over 4,000 kilograms of pizza, but the pizzaioli not only met the goal but significantly surpassed it. In 12 hours of non-stop work, they baked a total of 4,345.58 kilograms of pizza, or 12,000 pieces, beating the required time and weight well ahead of schedule.
Around eighty instructors and pizzaioli participated in the challenge, coming from all over Italy and 26 other countries. They baked the pizzas in seven ovens-six wood-fired and one electric. All the pizzas were distributed completely free of charge, taken by associations caring for the needy, nursing homes, and hospitals, while some were also shared with the gathered public and tourists.
Velenik was invited to participate as a licensed instructor of the GPN association, which he says is recognition for his years of work, continuous improvement, and numerous trainings he has undergone throughout his professional career. He also notes that it was a special pleasure because he was able to represent Croatia and his hometown of Poreč at one of the world's most important pizza-making competitions.
The event was organized by the international association GPN, Associazione Gruppo La Piccola Napoli, considered one of the most respected organizations bringing together experts in Neapolitan pizza from around the world. During the event, judges from the association monitored everything, and at the end, the pizzaioli's great success was officially recognized and entered into the Guinness Book of Records.
The Mayor of Poreč, Loris Peršurić, received Velenik and congratulated him on the record achieved and on representing the city at this major event in Naples, whose pizza napoletana is renowned as one of the best in the world. He also highlighted that the event ultimately served a good cause, as all participants contributed voluntarily, without any compensation, and the ingredients were provided by sponsors.
