Behind the Scenes Little Italy Tour

Six thousand families of Genovese and Sicilian origin once called San Diego’s Little Italy home. On this tour, you’ll experience the story of harborside neighborhood with an Italian presence since 1871 and see a side of Little Italy that few tourists or locals get to see.

As immigrants from Italy began to settle in Southern California in the late 19th century, the area now known as Little Italy reminded many Italians of their sunny fishing villages back home: the salty sea air … the pristine, ready-made port … the date palms … bougainvillea … geraniums … olive trees and cactus plants. These proud people painted their tiny bungalow homes blue or pink, reminiscent of the colors favored by their ancestors. They built wooden boats, fished with hand-sewn nets, cultivated fruit and vegetable gardens and baked golden loaves of sesame-topped Italian bread in their igloo-shaped backyard ovens. For a time, paradise was theirs.

Despite the near-obliteration of the neighborhood because of highway construction in the 1950s and 1960s, Little Italy today is as tight-knit and bustling as it ever was — with a strong connection to its history. Creative types love the neighborhood’s eclectic mix of art galleries and fancy boutiques, while foodies gravitate toward its range of culinary selections: from grab-and-go sub shops to fine Italian dining. Little Italy truly is San Diego’s food Mecca. Every Saturday, our behind-the-scenes tour reveals this multifaceted neighborhood. Sites of interest in Little Italy include: