Does Sacramento have a Little Italy? Where to find historic district — and how it started

Cities across the United States, from New York City to San Diego, have Little Italy districts where you can find Italian food, culture and community.

What about Sacramento?

Although part of East Sacramento has been home to Italian immigrants for decades spanning back to the California Gold Rush, it wasn’t formally recognized as Little Italy until recently.

The Sacramento City Council passed a resolution in 2021 designating the neighborhood as the Little Italy Historic District.

“It took that long,” said Vincenzo Cerruti, deputy director of the Italian Cultural Society of Sacramento.

His father, East Sacramento native William Cerruti, started the Italian Cultural Society when he was in his mid-30s. The Carmichael-based organization hosts yearly cultural and community events that celebrate the capital region’s Italian community.

Where is Little Italy in East Sacramento?

The Little Italy Historic District spans 24 square blocks between 48th and 59th streets, bounded by J Street and Folsom Boulevard.

At the intersection of 58th Street and Folsom, there are two city signs marking the district.

The signs are in the shape of medallion crests and “in the Italian colors of green, white and red,” Cerruti said.

When did Italian immigrants settle in Sacramento?

According to the Italian Cultural Society of Sacramento, Italians began flocking to the capital region in the 1850s.

“Italian roots run deep in the history of the city of Sacramento, right from the Gold Rush days forward,” Sacramento City Councilman Jeff Harris, who represents the area, said during a 2021 council meeting.

During the early 20th century, a large concentration of Italians — including families and farmers — settled in East Sacramento, originally a rural area, according to the Italian Cultural Society.

More Italians migrated to the area from the 1920s through 1960s, the group said, and established a “thriving business district” there — giving it “a distinct Italian flavor and identity into the present.”

“The area has been home to many Italian families and farmers who developed the area,” the city wrote in its Sept. 21, 2021, resolution designating Sacramento’s Little Italy Historical District.

In fact, stone farmhouses built by early Italian settlers still stand on the border of East Portal Park, according to the city. They’re called the Stone Sisters.

How did area get historic district designation?

William Cerruti and Fabrizio Sasso, executive director of the Sacramento Central Labor Council, pitched the idea of a Little Italy Historic District to the City Council, The Bee reported in 2021.

“I always wanted to have the Italian area recognized,” Cerruti said, adding that “I was always so busy with other initiatives in the Italian community” that he wasn’t able to focus on that effort until the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“With such a longstanding tradition, it seemed like it was time to claim that heritage and recognize it,” Cerruti said during the council meeting.

When the Sacramento City Council passed its Little Italy resolution, community members “were so proud,” Cerruti said.

“This area has been our home, our community, our neighborhood for as long as we can remember, and finally it’s being recognized,” Cerruti said. “That was a big deal for us.”

Which Italian restaurants, businesses are in neighborhood?

At the heart of Sacramento’s Little Italy Historic Center are St. Mary’s Catholic Church, which once held masses in Italian, and East Portal Park, home to the East Portal Bocce Club.

Little Italy is also home to several Italian-owned restaurants, stores and other businesses.

According to Cerruti, they include:

• Giovanni’s Old World New York Pizzeria, 6200 Folsom Blvd. in Sacramento
• Corti Brothers, 5810 Folsom Blvd. in Sacramento
• Talini’s Nursery and Garden Center, 5601 Folsom Blvd. in Sacramento
• Frank’s Automotive, 5220 Folsom Blvd. in Sacramento

This story was originally published July 6, 2024 at 5:00 AM.