Federal Hill may be Providence’s Little Italy, but there’s a little Italy floating through the Providence River downtown. It’s a gondola. Yes, Providence. Not Venice. To be a gondolier in Providence, however, there are a few rules:  You get an Italian name, you memorize a repertoire of songs — in Italian, of course — and you log at least 20 hours o...

The historic Columbus Day festival on Federal Hill in Providence is the latest event to fall victim from COVID-19. The large parade and festival is not happening this year, but that's not stopping some businesses from celebrating Italian heritage. "Next year, we expect the Columbus Day festival to be back in full force as it traditionally would, bu...

Chef Walter Potenza joins us in the Studio today to take us on Tour of the Italian Heritage Center Exhibit. The only photographic collections of early Italian immigration in Rhode Island! Since 1886 Federal Hill in Providence Rhode Island has been one the centers for Italian immigration in the United States. Italian settlers replaced the Irish sett...

The mayor of Providence said Tuesday he would consider moving a Christopher Columbus statue that was vandalized. Democratic Mayor Jorge Elorza told WPRO he’d entertain the idea of moving the statue from the city’s Elmwood neighborhood to the Federal Hill neighborhood, which is known for its Italian American community and Italian restaurants. His sp...

The 28th Annual Columbus Day Festival is taking place on Federal Hill in Providence this weekend. Saturday through Monday, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., more than 50 vendors have set up shop outside of businesses along Atwells Avenue. “The real purpose of the festival starting was honestly to do a marketing piece for Federal Hill and the whole goal was...

Whether you call it Federal Hill or Providence’s “Little Italy,” there’s no doubt that the neighborhood is changing, but there’s still a lot to love that’s exactly the same. Let’s appreciate what we have while we still have it, and also embrace some of the newer multicultural businesses that are making their home along the city’s famous red, white...

After a statue of Christopher Columbus was targeted by vandals in Providence, the head of the local chapter of the Sons of Italy is calling for the effigy to be moved to the community it primarily represents. Presumably in protest of Columbus Day, vandals doused the statue bearing the Italian explorer’s likeness with red paint Monday morning. The s...

It did in fact rain on the parade Sunday morning in Providence, but that didn’t dampen any of the rampant Italian spirit on Federal Hill. Hundreds of people turned out despite the weather for the 26th annual Columbus Day parade, which stepped off at 11 a.m. on Harris Avenue. Ten marching bands, including one from the National Guard, participated as...

The Federal Hill Commerce Association is celebrating the 26th Annual Columbus Day Festival on Federal Hill October 7-9, 2017. The Association announced on Wednesday that this year’s festival will feature three entertainment stages each day. Additionally, dozens of food and retail vendors, the annual parade, games and amusement rides will line Atwel...