Little Italy is a neighbourhood in New York City located in the northern part of the borough of Manhattan. As its name suggests, it was once the most Italian neighbourhood in the city. Today, tourists will find this spirit in the heart of the historic district, on Mulberry Street.
The history of Little Italy
Little Italy was the home of the many Italian immigrants who arrived in New York in the early 20th century.
They settled between Broome Street and Canal Street, in a neighbourhood that was no more than 15 blocks long.
Yet Genoese, Calabrians, Sicilians, Piedmontese, Tuscans, and Neapolitans clustered there according to their regional affiliation, creating “neighborhoods within a neighborhood.
The generations that followed quickly integrated into the population of New York and gradually abandoned Little Italy.
This phenomenon of desertion is coupled with the all-consuming presence of Chinatown. Located to the south and south-east of Little Italy, the Asian population of Chinatown gradually infiltrated its neighbour, helped by the departure of Italian descendants.
Today, the neighbourhood is not as Italian as it once was, but it still retains an original charm with its six-storey houses, the Italian restaurants and cafes that fill Mulberry Street, and the shops where fresh pasta is made and sold.
Some of the more upscale places like Umberto’s Clamhouse perpetuate the legend that in 1972, Joe Gallo, one of the mob bosses was murdered in the room.
But make no mistake, Little Italy has long since become a peaceful neighbourhood where families live in peace and children grow up without the dangers of the Mafia.
Visitors will also enjoy monuments and buildings such as the Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Bowery Savings Bank, the Pioneer Hotel and the Puck Building.
When visit Little Italy ?
The best time to visit Little Italy is during the annual celebrations of San Gennaro (September 19), the patron saint of Naples.
For ten days, the neighbourhood holds festivities along Mulberry Street, including magnificent religious processions.
As second, third and fourth generations of Italians have moved freely throughout New York, they have created new small community neighbourhoods, which are no more than two or three blocks long.
This is the case of Fordham in the Bronx, Besonhurst in Brooklyn, Howard Beach or Ozone Park in Queens and Middle Village. It should be noted that over 40% of the population of Staten Island is of Italian origin.
