Festa Italiana had everything you’d expect from an Italian festival, namely gelato and pizza, opera, and an Italian immigrants display. The event was kicked off by a Catholic procession starting at the Holy Rosary Church followed by comments by members of the Knights of Columbus and Lido Civic Club, D.C.’s Italian men’s business association.
The Holy Rosary Church, at 3rd Street NW and F Street, was once the center of D.C.’s Little Italy. Thousands of Italian immigrants used to live in this neighborhood, but as the community grew more integrated, Italian-Americans dispersed. The Church of the Holy Rosary and the Casa Italiana next door still serve today as the center for D.C.’s Italian-American community.
A special shout out to the good folks at Dolci Gelati, whose chocolate-dipped tricolore gelato popsicle (pistachio, coconut and strawberry) was simply scrumptious.
Global Local D.C. 
Written by Rachael Marcus
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