One of the city’s most enduring historic neighborhoods, Little Italy began as a community of Italian stone masons for Lake View Cemetery and the original home of the Guardians of Transportation Statues. Little Italy continues to celebrate its Italian heritage and is the home of culinary artists and fine Italian restaurants, and for artists and artisans of fabric, paper, ceramics, glass and paintings. The neighborhood offers diverse housing (and gardening) options for families, empty nesters and those from nearby hospitals, universities and cultural institutions in its one square mile area. Little Italy has plants, fig trees and grape arbors brought from the old country, art and sculptures, plenty of vegetables and herbs, and many, many creative uses of plant-filled pots.

Parking is no problem! Little Italy is easy to access by car, RTA, shuttle, or bicycle. In addition to a parking lot at E 119 and Mayfield (parkmobile.com), there are RTA stops at Mayfield Rd and at Cedar Rd. The websites littleitalycle.com and universitycircle.org websites have info on stops for the free University Circle Shuttle and more on its ‘getting around and parking’ page. Or rent a bike to tour Little Italy gardens using HOPR