Events - Event View

Experience the story of Little Italy, San Diego--a neighborhood with an Italian presence since 1871!

Six thousand families of Genovese and Sicilian origin once called this home. The salty sea air, ready-made port, date palms, bougainvillea, geraniums, olive trees and cactus plants reminded many Italians of their sunny fishing villages back home. They painted their tiny wooden bungalow homes the colors favored by their ancestors. They built their own boats, fished with hand-sewn nets, cultivated fruit and vegetable gardens, made fresh pasta by hand and baked golden loaves of sesame-topped Italian bread and focaccia in igloo-shaped backyard ovens. Come discover hidden neighborhood Little Italy landmarks that chart their story through time! Highlightsinclude: 

• The Piazza Basilone-fountain/war memorial, honoring the boys of Little Italy who died at war plus a visit to the Piazza della Famiglia—the new center of Little Italy with its beautiful fountain and the Piazza Pescatore—dedicated to the historic fisherman of Little Italy 
• SPECIAL ACCESS INSIDE--Little Italy’s Italian church built in 1925 recipient of a recent 2.5 million restoration with stunning religious art--frescoes, oil paintings, stained glass and one of a kind religious statues  
• Historic homes from the 19th century including a visit INSIDEa fully-restored Italian home built      in the 1880’s 
• Hidden neighborhood landmarks of the world that was...in the Italian quarter 
• Artifacts from the days when the Genovese & Sicilian fishermen dominated the seas in San Diego 
• The house of the Black Hand--the shadowy gang that reigned during Prohibition era, when for a brief time, they intimidated local Italian businesses with threats of violence 
• A visit inside an old-world Italian grocery store built in the 1920's 
• And much more!