Top 10 Italian Experiences in (Greater) L.A.
#1 The Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (IAMLA) is located in the Italian Hall, theoldest remaining building from L.A.’s historic little Italy. The IAMLA features interactive
exhibitions and programming that explore the history of Italians in the region, which predates
California’s statehood. Not to be missed is the Museum’s annual Taste of Italy in October,which features over 40 of the region’s best Italian restaurants, dozens of wineries, live
entertainment and more! www.italianhall.org#2 During a 34-year period Italian immigrant laborer Sabato Rodia constructed 17 interconnected structuresusing entirely recycled objects. Known today as the Watts Towers, Rodia’s creations are a historic-cultural
landmark and cannot be missed! www.wattstowers.us#3 A visit to the 97-year old San Antonio Winery takes you back to thetime when Los Angeles boasted over 100 wineries and was the wine
capital of the state. Offering daily tastings and tours, an extensive wineshop, scrumptious food and private event space, the San Antonio Winery is today the only
winery that remains in Los Angeles and is your urban winery. www.sanantoniowinery.com#4 St. Peter’s Italian Church, established in 1904 and located on North Broadway on the edge of Chinatown (once the heartof L.A.’s Italian neighborhood), offers Masses in Italian and presents dozens of colorful celebrations, most of which arededicated to the patron saints of the towns where Italian Angelenos originally hailed. The feasts of Saint Joseph, in March,and Santa Lucia, in December, are among the largest. www.stpeterschurchla.org#5 Tosca, Rigoletto, and Don Giovanni are a few of the world-class Italian operas that the L.A.
Opera has presented in recent years. Whether you are looking for an elegant evening on thetown or an opportunity to share the magic of opera with your family, school, or community group,
the L.A. Opera offers something for everyone, including free and discounted tickets for qualifying
groups through its Community Circle program.
#6 Rudolf Valentino was born in Puglia, Italy, and immigrated to the United States in 1913. Heachieved superstardom status in the early motion picture industry and is considered one of
Hollywood’s first heartthrobs. When he died suddenly at the young age of 31, an estimated 100,000
people attended his funeral. Visit Valentino’s grave at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in the Cathedral
Mausoleum, Crypt #1205. www.hollywoodforever.com#7 Following the United States’ entry into WWII, 600,000 Italians living in the U.S. who had not
obtained citizenship were branded “enemy aliens.” Enemy aliens were subject to arrest, forced
relocation, curfew, property seizure, travel restrictions, and internment. In Los Angeles, Italianinternees were held at the Tuna Canyon Detention Station in the Sunland-Tujunga area alongsideJapanese, Germans, and other prisoners. Nothing remains of the detention facility today, but a portion of the site, which ishome to a golf course, was recently declared a Historic-Cultural Landmark by the City of Los Angeles. Follow Tuna Canyon
Detention Station on Facebook for more information.
#8 Authentic Italian pizza is not frozen, nor is it made in a hut. Learn to make thereal thing with Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, an organization founded 30
years ago in Naples, Italy, to promote the art and tradition of authentic Neapolitan
pizza (cooked at 900 degrees!). The Association offers classes ranging from one
day to five. http://americas.pizzanapoletana.org/. After you have mastered the art ofpizza making, celebrate with real Italian gelato. We’re not talking the stuff that

comes from mixes, either. Try Bulgarini Gelato (Culver City or Altadena), Grom(Malibu), and Gelato Bar (Los Feliz).
#9 Parli italiano? Interested in learning to speak Italian or improving your Italian skills?
Fondazione Italia, a non-profit organization, offers classes for children and adults
throughout Southern California and provides a special discount for IAMLA members!
The Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles, located in Westwood, also offers Italianclasses ranging from elementary to advanced. www.italianfoundation.org or
www.iiclosangeles.esteri.it#10 Explore Italian art and architecture in Los Angeles! The J. Paul Getty Museum, Getty Villa, Los Angeles County
Museum of Art, Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Huntington Library boast impressive Italian art collections. Also worth
visiting are the Venice Canals; Rico LeBrun’s Genesis mural at Pomona College; Leo Politi’s The Blessing of the Animals
mural at El Pueblo Historical Monument; Giovanni Battista Smeraldi’s murals at the Biltmore Hotel (the Los Angeles
Conservancy offers weekly tours – reservations required – www.laconservancy.org); and the San Secondo D’Asti Church(what little remains of Secondo Guasti’s utopic village and vineyard) in Ontario, California. That’s just the tip of the iceberg,
however! To learn more about Italian events, history and other topics of interest, join the IAMLA’s mailing list.
www.italianhall.org/contact© 2014 Italian American Museum of Los Angeles.