Baltimore’s Little Italy: Where Every Stoop has a Story
Buy for a Group
Reviews
About the Tour
About the Tour
Baltimore’s Little Italy is more than just a collection of streets and buildings. It’s a living museum where generations of Italian immigrants created a vibrant community that endures today.
On this neighborhood walking tour, you’ll discover the rich collection of stories behind the restaurants, homes, and gathering places that have made this area a cultural landmark for more than a century.
This tour starts at Columbus Piazza (Columbus Park), one of the pedestrian gateways to Little Italy. You’ll stroll past family-owned establishments where presidents and celebrities still come to dine, and explore the site where residents prayed for divine intervention during the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904. As you wander down historic streets, you’ll hear about secret wine-making during Prohibition, neighborhood gambling operations, and the traditions that have bound this community together.
You’ll discover how this neighborhood was shaped by waves of immigration and how it evolved through generations of family ownership. You’ll find out where movie nights once again draw hundreds of people to the neighborhood, and how Saint Anthony’s intervention saved Little Italy from destruction. The tour ends at Columbus Piazza, where you can reflect on the enduring spirit of this close-knit neighborhood.
During this 60-minute tour, you’ll have the chance to:
- Visit St. Leo’s Church, the spiritual heart of Little Italy since 1879, where residents prayed for salvation during the Great Fire with a statue of Saint Anthony
- Discover the site of Maria’s 300, where notorious gangster Al Capone dined during his time in Baltimore
- Walk past the former Della Noce Funeral Home, now converted into condominiums known as Villa Carmine
- Explore Slemmers Alley, once filled with hucksters, vendors, and entertaining organ grinders with their trained monkeys
- Stroll past the renowned bocce courts where leagues and open play happen nearly every day
- View colorful murals depicting Italian landmarks and neighborhood scenes, including the surrealistic Trevi Fountain
- Learn about the President Street Station, the oldest surviving big city railroad terminal in America
Come experience this charming slice of Baltimore where Italian heritage is proudly preserved, and every corner has a story waiting to be told.
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
Dan Sutherland-Weiser
Curiosity drives Dan’s passion for history, neighborhoods, and the untold or forgotten stories that shape them. He brings these narratives to life with a twist of humor, drama, and intrigue - making the past feel vivid, surprising, and fun.
By sharing these stories in engaging ways, Dan helps others discover the richness and excitement hidden in overlooked corners of history.
Even if you’ve been to one of the tour locations, Dan hopes you’ll hear something you never knew about before.
A seasoned, Emmy Award winning broadcast journalist, Dan has been writing and telling stories for decades. He started doing tours for friends by blending his love of running and storytelling into immersive tours created while living in different cities across the United States.
Each of these walking tours is meticulously researched, drawing from original sources and first-hand accounts whenever possible. Whether it’s a well-known landmark or a tucked-away alley, Dan’s tours offer fresh perspectives and unforgettable tales.
Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 15
Prohibition Wine Making
Pratt is now the northern end of Little Italy, but for many years, the neighborhood extended above Pratt. Look across the street to what is now 922 Pratt Street, right next to the corner - these newer homes replaced the house... Read More
View locations and route
How VoiceMap Works
Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
-
Columbus Park
-
Сhristopher Сolumbus statue
-
La Tavola
-
Vaccaro's Italian Pastry Shop, Little Italy
-
Saint Leos School
-
Bocce Courts
-
Benny's (Formerly Joe Benny’s)
-
St. Leo the Great Catholic Church
-
President Street Station Museum
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
-
Start location250 President St Suite 2300, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA
-
Total distance2km
-
Final location400 International Drive 29th floor, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA
-
Distance back to start location64.14m
Directions to Starting Point
The tour of Little Italy begins in Columbus Piazza. You'll know you're there when you see the Italian flags, trees, benches, and a plinth - where a statue of Columbus once stood.
Many people walk here from the Inner Harbor or Harbor East. The closest parking is the Pier V (five) Garage at 711 Pratt Street, there are surface lots nearby on President Street, and the Little Italy Garage, about a 7-minute walk at 400 South Central.
Show Directions
Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
This tour delights the eyes and ears -but why stop there? To truly experience Little Italy, you’ve got to taste it. The neighborhood is a culinary mosaic, where old-world flavors meet modern twists. You’ll pass beloved restaurants that have served generations, alongside fresh-faced eateries offering a new flair and non-traditional Italian bites.
Craving something sweet? Little Italy delivers with bakeries, ice cream shops, and even a local gem that makes world-famous toffee shipped across the globe.
Whether you're snacking, sipping, or savoring, every bite tells a story. So, bring your appetite—and maybe stretchy pants. This is history you can taste.
Best time of day
This tour can be taken at any time. It's especially fun to take it when there's lots of activity in the neighborhood - when people are going to the restaurants in the early evening, just before movie night, or during a festival.
Here's an idea, take the tour and then grab a bite to eat at one of the many great places along the way.
Precautions
Be especially careful crossing streets, even small ones. Drivers, who may be distracted looking at their phone, aren't always in tune with pedestrians. Even if drivers have a red light and you have a walk sign, be alert. And, with any city anywhere in the world, always be mindful of your surroundings.
Get The App
Get The App
Last Updated
Questions and Reviews
