Take A Weekend To Wine, Dine, And Explore The Little Italy Of Illinois
By Melissa Mahoney|Published December 30, 2021
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
Not all of us can pack our bags and fly to Italy, so a weekend trip to Little Italy in Illinois may be in order instead. The historic Italian-American neighborhood is known for its Italian restaurants, delis, bakeries, stunning architecture, festivals, and community. If you haven’t done so yet, take a weekend to explore all that Little Italy in Chicago has to offer.
Ciao and welcome to Little Italy, a neighborhood located on Chicago's west side! Home to the University of Illinois at Chicago, this area is also referred to as "University Village." The neighborhood was settled mainly by Italian immigrants who established restaurants and other businesses in the early 1900s.
Throughout Little Italy/University Village you'll see plenty of gorgeous buildings, like the Italiante architecture on Lexington Street and row homes pictured here. Explore the neighborhood by foot to get a feel of the area.
Stop in at the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii, the oldest Italian-American church in the city of Chicago. You may also want to stop in at the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum which was once a place that helped European immigrants who just arrived in the city around the turn of the century.
There are numerous Italian restaurants and delis in Little Italy like Conte di Savoia which has been here since 1948. Stop in at lunchtime for one of the best sub sandwiches you'll have and pick up some Italian and other European grocery items while you're here.
You can learn more about Conte de Savoia on its website.
A visit to the area in the summer months requires a stop at Mario's Italian Lemonade on Taylor Street. Established in 1954, this dessert stand offers several flavors of refreshing Italian ice including lemon, lime, strawberry, and watermelon.
When you're ready for dinner, head to an eatery like The Rosebud on Taylor Street. Here you can enjoy a glass of wine as you dine on delectable Italian cuisine.
You can learn more about The Rosebud in Little Italy on the official website.
To really experience Chicago's Little Italy, come here during one of the festivals and you'll have an unforgettable time enjoying plenty of food, entertainment, and fun!
Have you explored Little Italy in Chicago before? If you have, what were some of your favorite things about it? Tell us in the comments. To learn more, head to the Choose Chicago website.
If you enjoy Italian cuisine, visit Verucchi’s Ristorante, a restaurant that’s been around since 1914 in Spring Valley.
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