The Treasures Of Little Italy, New York City

By Author: Bonny Kominek
Total Articles: 96
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Brief Look Back at Little Italy''s Beginnings

Once the home of Italian immigrants, Little Italy retains its attractive Italian ambiance throughout the four blocks that it spans. Many of the buildings are the original structures or tenements that existed in the beginning of this neighborhood''s development. Quaint cobblestone streets with narrow widths are still used today to travel through rows of tall, five-story and six-story buildings.

Life on these streets began in the mid 1800s as Italian immigrants entered the United States to escape certain poverty due to the unemployment levels in their maiden land of Italy. Tenements with four or more levels were quickly erected to provide homes for the lower class. These structures featured elaborate cornices, many of which remain today. Typically, the lower level of each of these buildings were designed as shops with glass store fronts that could showcase the items each shopkeeper was attempting to sell.

Dining in Little Italy

Little Italy features several dozen cafes and restaurants, most of which can be found on Mulberry Street. The aromatic scents reach ...
... the nostrils of pedestrians, alerting them to the fine Italian cuisine to be found in each dining facility. Most of these eateries feature authentic sounding Italian names and provide northern or southern Italian dishes. Many of the glass store fronts remain, showcasing Italian salamis, bottles of olive oil, and countless numbers of popular Italian tinned foods.

Not only will visitors find the spicy food that Italy is famous for, but they can also enjoy the delectable sweets and fresh breads offered by local bakeries. Such delicacies as Italian cheesecake, cannolis, and Pasticiotto are difficult to resist. In the warm days of summer, visitors might prefer to sample a lighter sweet. While many places offer gelatos, only Little Italy can promise to provide an authentic gelato that tastes almost as though it came from Italy itself.

The Italian Shops of Little Italy

Little Italy is home to numerous shops, many of which feature authentic Italian jewelry, designer clothing, souvenirs of New York or Little Italy, and more. If the name of the shop doesn''t give pedestrians a hint of what to expect inside, the display in the storefront does.

Important Stops in Little Italy

In addition to the many restaurants, cafes, and stores that visitors can enjoy browsing, one special place of interest that everyone should stop to see is Old St. Patrick''s Cathedral. Dating back to 1809, this cathedral is an architectural masterpiece. It features a gorgeous marble altar adorned with decorative gold leaf accents. The cathedral still has an ornate Erben organ that dates all the way back to 1852. Underneath the cathedral is the resting place for a number of the bishops who server New York City. Their resting place has been incorporated into a pre-existing labyrinth. Bonny Kominek wrote this article while on a holiday booked with Dialaflight who provide great deals on flights to America including cheap flights to New York.