The terrains alongside the Mohawk River where Cohoes is today were first settled by Europeans of Dutch descent in the early 1600s. The land was passed down through a couple of generations of the initial settler's family,but it was over a century later that any major development began to take place. In the early 18th century the then-owner of the land divided it into tracts for housing and built a textile mill for the processing of cotton by the river. The mill was to be the first of many that dealt with the cotton crops of the southern states and that would eventually earn Cohoes the nickname of Spindle City. Cohoes industrialization continued and by the mid-20th century it was a well-established city with a population nearing twenty thousand. That was the era that the descendants of some of the Italian mill workers decided it was the ideal moment to launch their hospitality-related businesses and the first Italian restaurants in Cohoes began serving pizza and other traditional Mediterranean dishes.

Cohoes in New York is known for Sicilian-style pizza

Whether Cohoes is known for Sicilian-style pizza because the ancestors of the pizzeria owners came from the Italian island of Sicily or because that's just what they like to cook is unclear. Sicilian-style pies are one of the main features on the menus of the pizzerias in Cohoes though and they like to bake them as big and square tray-bakes. That's an absolute bonus when you've a few hungry mouths to feed. Sicilian-style pizza is a hearty pie with a thick crust base that's spongier than what you'd get on a regular pizza. A traditional Sicilian-style is usually only topped with tomato sauce, but you'll find the pizzerias in Cohoes make theirs with cheese and lots of other extra toppings too as that suits the tastes of their customers better.

Best Delivery Pizza in Cohoes, New York

When you need to get the best delivery pizza in Cohoes because you've got a hungry brood to feed there's really only one place you should order from. The pizza joint in Cohoes you should call is Mick's Pizza on Sargeant Street. At Mick's Pizza they've been baking pies to feed their neighborhood since 1993 and they understand the importance of size as well as quality. Mick's Pizza specialize in mega pizzas and the largest Sicilian-style tray-bake they cook gets cut into thirty generous pieces. That means no-one is going hungry as there'll be more than enough to go around. They do smaller Sicilian-style pizzas too as well as a thin crust New York-style if you don't want to consume quite so many carbs.

Best Takeout Pizza in Cohoes, New York

If you've left the Cohoes Music Hall feeling famished after watching a performance, but don't want a sit down restaurant meal, don't worry. You're just a couple of streets away from where you can get the best take-out pizza in Cohoes to take home with you. You can get that pie from Gepetto's Pizzeria on White Street. Gepetto's Pizzeria occupies a small premises with minimal dining-in facilities so you won't need to push your way through crowded tables to get to the counter. That doesn't mean they're not a busy pizza joint, they are, but they're one that focuses on the take-out and delivery side of the business. For an all-round tasty after-show supper treat try Gepetto's Chicken Marsala and Spinach pizza. It'll leave you star struck.

Best Pizza near Cohoes, New York

Waterford

Waterford is a mere two mile drive from Cohoes across the Mohawk River and a place where there are plenty of things to do to help pass a few hours. Drop by the Waterford Historical Museum and Cultural Center as a first port of call then head for the Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor. If you want to be a captain for the day you can be as there are several places you can hire a boat to go navigating the canal so long as you're happy contending with the locks. If you're into more energetic activities you can paddle the canal, or at least part of it, in a kayak or canoe or for landlubbers, take a long stroll along the towpaths. Before you make the short journey home try a pie at La Bella Pizza and Pasta on Broad Street.

Schenectady

Schenectady is a city fifteen miles northeast of Cohoes which is great for history fans, adult entertainment and winter sports. If you're someone who likes to keep learning then the miSci Museum of Innovation and Science will keep you interested for a couple of hours at least, as will the Schenectady County History Museum. If you're not averse to having a little flutter then you'll enjoy a spell in the Rivers Casino and Resort and even more so if you leave with a fistful of dollars you didn't have when you went in. For some fresh air and exercise the Mohawk-Hudson Hike and Bike Trail is great as is Schenectady's central park. Winter sports addicts will have a ball on the slopes of the Maple Ski Ridge, but if there's no snow go for a pizza at Marino's Pizza Restaurant on State Street instead.

Albany

Albany, ten miles southwest of Cohoes, is the city to head for when you want to enjoy some first-class cultural activities. In Albany you can spend an entire morning browsing around the exhibits of the New York State Museum or the Albany Institute of History and Art before taking a tour of the New York State Capitol Building. If you're into scenic photography, take a stroll through Washington Park where you'll find a picturesque lake and an attractive bridge to snap shots of. Make the outing special by stopping off at Pizzeria Sapienza on South Pearl Street for a pizza.