Little Italy is a small neighborhood of row houses just east of downtown Baltimore. St Leo’s Church on Exeter Street serves as an anchor to the community and hosts two Italian festivals over the summer: St Anthony’s Festival in early June, and St Gabriel’s Festival in late August.

The Father Oreste Pandola Learning Center helps keep Italian culture alive through its classes on Italian language, cooking, baking, etc. The neighborhood has survived many changes in the downtown area, yet still remains true to its working class roots. This is a place where stepping out to buy a loaf of bread may actually take an hour: neighbors still stop to gather and chat outside their front door.

During the months of July and August, the community runs an outdoor film festival, showing classic films every Friday night. Two blocks are closed down to cars, and people pack the streets with their lawn chairs to enjoy the movie.