Little Italy

One of Cleveland's most enduring ethnic enclaves, Little Italy was founded in the late 19th century by immigrants primarily from the Abruzzi region of Italy. Italian craftsman Giuseppe Carabelli came to Cleveland via New York and opened an engraving and stonemasonry business. Carabelli's early employees developed a reputation as expert stonemasons for their contributions to the monumental work at nearby Lakeview Cemetery. The residential area to the south of the cemetery was occupied by numerous Italian families at the turn of the century.

Community life in Little Italy revolves around the Santa Rosa (Roman Catholic) church and the Alta (settlement) homes. Holy Rosary Parish was commissioned by the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland in 1891 when Scalabrini's fathers were called from Italy to serve Cleveland's eastern Italian residents. In the following years, the parish grew, built two churches, and became the central religious and social center of the community.

Alta House began as a nursery and kindergarten institution for the community. Carabelli approached the agency about expanding social services to the community. By 1898, John D. Rockefeller had provided programs and facilities in the name of his daughter Alta to serve immigrant communities as they integrated into American society. Today, Santa Rosalie and the Palazzo Alta remain the main religious social forces in the neighborhood. In recent times, Little Italy has been able to capitalize on its ethnic heritage and become a popular destination for shopping and dining in Northeast Ohio.

Interestingly, Little Italy isn't the only Italian in Cleveland's East Side neighborhood. The Woodland Avenue/Central Market area is the definition of Cleveland's "Greater Italian" neighborhood. It was the older and larger home of Italian and Sicilian immigrants.

The area began to decline after World War II and by the 1960s had been largely destroyed by encroaching highways and urban renewal