By Christopher Gomez | Little Italy News
There’s no missing the iconic Little Italy landmark sign when walking down India Street. If you take a closer look, the sign does more than just welcome guests to Italian cuisine, public piazzas and “ciao bellas” on every corner. The mosaic tiles lining each side of the India Street sign tell a story about Little Italy’s culture and honors its Italian heritage.
In October, the historic Little Italy landmark sign will celebrate its 15th birthday just in time for the West Coast’s largest Italian homecoming — Little Italy’s 21st annual FESTA! on Sunday, Oct. 11.
The mosaic art on the sign represents the transformation that has taken place throughout this community. The sign was constructed 15 years ago to pay tribute to the immigrant neighborhood — representing ties to the bay, the church and the Italian homeland. The nautical theme is conveyed through the portholes at the top of the pillars, the blue neon lettering and the cable span — which holds up the sign.
Over the years the sign has been a focal point for San Diego’s Little Italy, as visitors from near and far line up to snap photos in front of the iconic sign. Today, the landmark sign represents everything the San Diego Little Italy neighborhood has been able to achieve and highlights all of the incredible things that make this community so special.
The Little Italy Association is excited to honor both monumental occasions this October, as we celebrate the historic sign’s 15th year since instillation alongside the 21st annual FESTA! celebration. Together, both provide a testament to the preservation of Little Italy’s cultural heritage and to the ongoing revitalization of this dynamic urban ethnic neighborhood in Downtown San Diego.
This October will undoubtedly be one for the books in Little Italy. From the food and art, to the fun-filled events with music and dancing — Little Italy will be as vibrant as ever and we want to welcome everyone to become a part of our famiglia. Next time you’re in the neighborhood, take a look at the detail on the landmark sign that represents the 48-square-blocks of Italian love and spirit this beautiful community has to offer.
We look forward to seeing you on India Street this October! To check out what other things are going on in our neighborhood, follow us on Instagram and Twitter @LittleItalySD and Facebook/San DiegoLittleItaly or check out our events at littleitalysd.com/events.
—Christopher Gomez has been Little Italy’s district manager since 2000. Reach him at [email protected].
