From thriving canneries and scenic harbor where their boats were moored, to it's historic Italian church that consoled local Italians over the course of many decades, San Diego’s Little Italy experienced boom and bust over the years. Today it offers stylish caf?s, galleries, shops, and historical landmarks aplenty. See for yourself on a guided walk with an expert Italian guide along hilly streets flanked by date palms, olive trees, fig and lemon trees, geraniums, bougainvillea, and cactus plants.

The tour starts when you meet your Italian guide at Caf? Zucchero, considered by many locals to be the best Italian bakery in all of Little Italy. Sink your teeth into their signature Iris pastry; it's the only place in town that you can find this luscious, traditional
1/2 pound cream-filled/chocolate oozing morning treat.

Visit the Piazza Basilone, a memorial that honors the local Italian boys who died during the various wars.

The tour showcases the homes from the 19th and early 20th century and your guide uses archival photos, artifacts, hidden landmarks and Italian music to bring alive how the Italians lived, worked and worshiped. Guests also visit the oldest Italian grocery in Little Italy built in 1926--still home to some of the best cheese, salamis, Italian bread, olive oil and pasta etc. in the neighborhood.

Go inside the historic Italian church to marvel at the stunning frescoes, stained glass windows, oil paintings and one-of-a-kind statues, sculptures and relics--equal to what you might see in a church in Rome.

Your group will travel on to sites such as Prohibition Alley, the lair of the infamous Black Hand gang that controlled bootlegging operations and the protection racket in the 1920's.

An amazing assortment of archival photos chronicling Little Italy from 1871 to today, hidden neighborhood landmarks, carefully preserved artifacts tucked away out of sight that many San Diego residents don't even know about--awaits you waiting to tell the story of the Italian quarter. The Italians are reputed to have a legendary 'thirst for living.' You are sure to come away inspired during your special behind the scenes visit. And you will love the massive creamy and chocolate filled pastry that will make your tummy happy. Guests routinely call it AMAZING!

After 1.5 hours exploring San Diego’s Italian quarter, your tour will come to an end near Caf? Zucchero. You will never see Little Italy the same way again!