arts and humanitiescultural heritagesociety
By Raphael Umphres-Piscitelli
Nestled between Mission Hills and the San Diego Bay lays one of San Diego’s most culturally significant neighborhoods: Our own Little Italy.
In the present day, Little Italy is full of attractions for all: Fine & Family dining with outdoor seating, locally-owned grocery stores, cafes that serve top tier espresso, a dog park to play with furry friends, community centers such as Convivio Society, a lovely cathedral, homes and schools. When you are out on a Saturday and see the residents of the corner of town out playing bocce ball, enjoying sunshine at La Piazza Della Famiglia, or attending mass at Our Lady of the Rosary, you are struck with the knowledge that a place like Little Italy doesn’t just appear out of nowhere. Our vibrant community you see today is the product of more than 100 years of community foundations that will echo into the future as long as time will have us.
San Diego’s Little Italy was initially where Sicilian, Italian and Portuguese immigrants settled. At the time, the community was engaged in one of the most productive Tuna fisheries in the world, with several canneries making their homes here and employing several generations of foreigners who dreamed of freedom and prosperity in America. From that initial seed, the community gathered: homes were built, Our Lady of the Rosary Church was established, Washington Elementary School was founded; while this was in no way an affluent neighborhood as it is today, there was a special and unique flavor developing on the waterfront.
As the decades passed and city infrastructure grew, the waterfront community was halved and torn by the foundation of Interstate 5 right through the heart of the neighborhood. For a time, many families moved elsewhere in San Diego. Crime in the second half of the 20th century also made living in Little Italy a difficult prospect for many families.
For a time, our neighborhood became known as Harbor view. But as that generation grew, many people dreamed of having a Little Italy of our own. In the early 2000s, the community came together to revitalize the prospect of having a district that honors the Italian American story and moves our story into the future. We have statues and Murals of some of our heroes on display for all: a whole plaza dedicated to Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone, who gave his life for this country and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service in World War II; a mural of our hometown hero, Padres Pitcher Joe Musgrove. India street is flagged with dozens of important Italian-American icons. There’s room up there for many, many more of us.
A walk (or passeggiata) through Little Italy is a walk that cannot be taken for granted, because every block of Little Italy is a cornerstone placed by a city that had a vision, and a community that made it come true. We welcome everyone to come experience the Magic of San Diego – play some bocce ball, or even some stick ball in the park. You are welcome with us any time!
