| New York City is characterized mainly by its | | | | As the second and third generation children of these |
| patchwork quilt of demographics from all over the | | | | families become acclimated to the culture of their |
| world. The number one cosmopolitan metropolis in | | | | adopted motherland and moved out into "the |
| the world, it is boasts an unparalleled mix of cultures | | | | country", the numbers of Little Italy steadily receded |
| and ethnicities, a legacy from the days of the Gold | | | | until it was almost taken over by the encroaching |
| Rush and the post-war economic boom which saw | | | | population of the local Chinatown. Today, only a few |
| vast numbers of immigrants from all four corners of | | | | thousand Italian residents people the streets of Little |
| the globe pour in from the portal of Ellis Island. To | | | | Italy, having almost merged with Chinatown. Only a |
| most of the immigrants setting foot on the | | | | section of Mulberry Street retains their distinctive |
| bewildering lands of the New World for the first time, | | | | Italian characteristics; this area known as "NoLita" is |
| the culture shock was great. They shielded | | | | lined with dozens of Italian restaurants and cafes, |
| themselves from this for the most part by banding | | | | where the authentic flavor of Italy is literally most |
| together in communities and settling into the old | | | | strongly preserved. |
| patterns and familiar traditions of home, forming | | | | Still, the area still suffused in a timeless old-world |
| diasporic communities that added their flavors to the | | | | charm has formed the background for acclaimed |
| melting pot that is New York City. Nowhere is this | | | | films; most notably Godfather II and The Gangs of |
| more apparent than in Manhattan, NYC's most | | | | New York. There also stand a few venues of |
| populous borough. | | | | interest, which are the proud mainstays of the area's |
| Little Italy is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, | | | | Italian heritage. Most Precious Blood Church on |
| which perfectly illustrates the flow and ebb of these | | | | Mulberry Street and Old St. Patrick's Church are as |
| diasporic communities and the color they add to the | | | | much historic monuments as they are congregation |
| city's cultural tapestry. It was begun when the | | | | points for Roman Catholics, having provided |
| political and religious refugees of Northern Italy fled | | | | sanctuary for Italian immigrants since the 1800s. The |
| to the U.S in the early 19th century. The second half | | | | Italian American Museum is also worth a visit as the |
| of the same century saw the Italian immigration | | | | location was once a bank central to all the Italian |
| levels to NYC reach its zenith; the city in that period | | | | business operations in the area. Little Italy enjoys a |
| boasted several Italian newspapers and parishes. | | | | brief revival every September with the Feast of San |
| These immigrants gradually found a permanent home | | | | Gennaro, where the Patron Saint of Naples is feted in |
| in what is now called "Little Italy". Of course, borders | | | | grand style in a celebration spanning 11 days. |
| were drawn immediately - the Northern Italians | | | | If you want to take in the sights of this |
| grouped themselves along Bleecker Street while the | | | | Mediterranean footprint in NYC, make sure to visit |
| Genoese marked Baxter Street as their territory. | | | | This travel portal is a convenient way to book New |
| Western Sicilians could be found on Elizabeth Street | | | | York hotels, making sure you find the best New |
| while the former citizens of Naples made their | | | | York hotels have to offer. |
| address on Mulberry Street. | | | | |