Head to South Philly's Italian Market
This district is home to food markets, bakeries and restaurants,
For more than a century, waves of immigrants have settled in the working-class neighborhoods south of downtown Philadelphia, bringing with them a wealth of diverse cultures and culinary traditions. The Italians in particular have left their mark on South Philly, and visitors can get an authentic taste of Italian-American heritage at the Italian Market, the lively commercial district and open-air marketplace on South 9th Street.
Unlike many sanitized and shrink-wrapped ethnic neighborhoods that are touted as tourist attractions in other cities, Philadelphia's Italian Market is the real deal, with a jumble of unpretentious shops and open-air stalls selling bargain clothing and household goods, fresh pasta and produce, meats and seafood, imported cheeses and irresistible Italian-style breads and pastries.
Bring a healthy appetite, and after savoring the sights, sounds and smells of the market, you can tuck into a juicy cheesesteak or hoagie sandwich, a crusty slice of pizza or a steaming plate of pasta. Be sure to save room for one of South Philly's exquisite Sicilian-style cannolis, a crunchy pastry tube filled with soft, sweet cheese.
The Italian Market district ) straddles 9th Street south of the Palumbo Playground at 9th and Fitzwater. Most shops and vendors are open daily from about 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (2 p.m. on Sundays), and the market stays busy year-round, with fires set in steel drums keeping shoppers warm through the winter months.
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