This text is part of the special Pleasures notebook
The Italian diaspora boomed at the beginning of the 20th century.e century. Poverty pushed many Italians, especially from the south of the country, to come and settle in America to find a better future. Family, friends, paesano from the same village joined them and little by little formed a cultural core within what would later become the neighborhoods nicknamed “Little Italy”. In Canada, the United States and South America, these communities have left a rich heritage that adds to the cultural diversity of the place where they arrived. While we know our Little Italy in Montreal, let’s set off to discover the Italian neighborhoods of the world, so many stops to put in the program of our next getaways.
Montreal
Located today north of Mile-End, in the quadrilateral formed by Bellechasse Street to the south and Jean-Talon Street to the north, Saint-Laurent Boulevard to the west and Saint-Denis Street to the east, the Little Italy neighborhood has changed a lot since the arrival of the first Italian immigrants at the beginning of the 20th centurye century. However, it still receives visits from tourists who come to wander its streets in search of Italianness. Montrealers love the neighborhood as much for its good gourmet addresses as for its festivities during the FIFA World Cup. There you will find the best espressos, served at Caffè Italia, delicious pizzas, including those from Pizzeria Napoletana, products imported from the Milano grocery store, or even tasty cannolis from Alati-Caserta. These are all Italian addresses dating back more than fifty years. We must also not forget the Jean-Talon market, founded in 1930, which is the heart of the district. At that time, this area of the city was populated by farms and fields. Italian farmers grew vegetables and fruits there which they then sold at the market.
Ottawa
Ottawa’s Little Italy neighborhood, nicknamed “Corso Italia” is located on Preston Street, between Carling Avenue and Somerset Street West. With its colorful murals and sculptures, the district looks like an open-air museum. These works of art are intended to be a tribute to the neighborhood’s first immigrants. Mostly created by artist Karole Marois, the colorful images depict the history of the Italians who lived in the region. Among the most remarkable works, that of the 417 highway viaduct; a project led by Joe Cotroneo, neighborhood resident and owner of Pub Italia. Moreover, his establishment is decorated with a magnificent exterior fresco also created by the artist. On Preston Street, you can admire 15 sculptures created by artist CJ Fleury illustrating the neighborhood’s DNA through its foods, sports and more. A final mural not to be missed is that of “Corso Italia” where there is a tarantella dancer in typical costume, created by the artist Ryan Smeeton.
Toronto
It was on College Street West, between Bathurst and Osington, that the first Italian immigrants from Calabria, Abruzzo and Sicily took up residence. Today the area is a mix of international restaurants and cafes. However, certain celebrations of Italian origin still take place there. On the days of the European Cup and World Cup matches, for example, the cafes are crowded with fans who fervently listen to the matches on the giant screen. In addition, every Good Friday, another type of procession, this time religious, takes place. The area is closed to traffic to allow a gigantic parade, which takes the form of a Stations of the Cross, to unfold. A tradition established by the first Italian immigrants to Canada. On a more note glamourfans of Hollywood films can come and admire the stars of Italian stars thanks to the Italian Walk of Fame, located in the district.
Manhattan
Attracted by the American dream, thousands of Italian immigrants settled in the poor neighborhoods of Lower Manhattan. Over time, this neighborhood also became the hideout of the biggest gangsters and mafiosi in the United States. A striking story which has given rise to numerous Hollywood films, of which Italian-American actor Frank Sinatra is the standard bearer. Fortunately, the Italian community’s joie de vivre rose above the drama of neighborhood crime. You can still hear some local artists fervently performing the anthems of their country of origin while playing the accordion in the local trattorias. Tourists can taste typical dishes from southern Italy there; some restaurants that serve them date back to the arrival of the first Italian immigrants, for example the Ferrara Bakery, which has belonged to the same family since 1892, where you can taste the best cannolis, or Lombardi’s, which is the first pizzeria of New York, dating from 1905.
Chicago
The Little Italy neighborhood is located on the Near West Side of the city. Made up of a dozen streets, the neighborhood still has a strong Italian concentration, especially from east of Taylor Street to Ashland Avenue. There is also the University of Illinois, hence its nickname “University Village”. The Italian community is still present in this neighborhood with some institutions, restaurants and stores that have been passed down from generation to generation. Pompei, for example, is one of the oldest restaurants in the United States and has been owned by the same Italian family, the Davinos, since 1909. People come here for its delicious pastas served with homemade focaccia. In summer, go to Mario’s, where you can enjoy a very good frozen lemonade since 1954! Even the famous deep dish pizza, typically from Chicago, has real Italian origins. It is an Italian, Lou Malnati, who is one of the precursors. Arriving in Chicago in the 1940s, he worked in a pizzeria that was inspired by pizza al padellino from Turin. This type of pizza has become an emblematic dish of the city. Malnati’s founded his own restaurant chain in 1971, the still popular Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria.
San Francisco
San Francisco’s Little Italy, which locals call “North Beach,” is famous for its rich Italian heritage. There are countless trattorias, bakeries and cafes offering the best Italian-inspired gourmet specialties. The area is also popular for its lively nightlife and its proximity to the city’s most important monuments, including the historic Coit Tower. Located between the touristy Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown, it’s a place loved by locals and tourists alike. The area has no shortage of good addresses, such as Tony’s Pizza Napoletana (founded by Tony Gemignani, 13-time winner of the World Pizza Championship) which offers a delicious variety of Neapolitan-style pizzas. Trattoria Contadina, which offers hearty, traditional Italian fare, is owned by the third generation of Correntis, and Tommaso’s Ristorante Italiano has a culinary history dating back to 1935.
Sao Paulo
Italians from the diaspora emigrated en masse to Brazil in 1888. It is particularly in the province of São Paolo that we find many of their descendants. The Bixiga district still contains the largest number of restaurants run by Italian families of 4e or 5e generation. It can be considered one of the Italian neighborhoods in the country. The Italian immigrants to this neighborhood came mainly from Turin, with a long tradition of pizza dough artisans that they continued to practice in their host land. The Pizzaria São Pedro has been a good reference since 1966. The Mocca and Bixiga districts also contain other Italian specialties, such as the Neapolitan pastries of Di Cunto (since 1878) or the risotto of the Don Carlini restaurant. The mortadella sandwich is also one of the most popular specialties in the province. On the cultural side, Italian religious festivals, such as San Gennaro, are celebrated with great pomp in the streets of the neighborhood.
Buenos Aires
Argentina is the South American country with the largest Italian immigration. It is estimated that around 3 million Italians came to the country between 1857 and 1940. The first arrivals chose, among other places, the district of La Boca in Buenos Aires to settle, but over time, they dispersed throughout Argentina. If a “Little Italy” does not strictly speaking exist in Argentina, since the integration of Italians was part of the culture from the very beginning, we can still discover in La Boca certain reminders of the motherland. Streets and neighborhoods with Italian names, such as the Palermo neighborhood, buildings with names such as Plaza Italia, which is also a monument offered by the Italian community to celebrate the centenary of the country’s independence, exist in the La Boca district. Now home to the Atlético Juniors club, the area is a haunt for tourists. Around Caminito Street, lined with brightly colored houses, reminiscent of the homes of the first Italian immigrants, there are several restaurants and gelaterias reputable.
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