At the turn of the century, the Lower East Side had its limited space over-populated with immigrants, and East Harlem became an alternative. The new train lines and subways provided access uptown and soon another Little Italy formed in East Harlem from East 96th Street to 125th at the north, bordered between Pleasant Avenue, which was by the water, and 5th Avenue to the west. Immigrants from Sicily, Southern Italy and some Northern Italians made their way up north and formed a tight community for over half a century. At its height, it was estimated that about 100,000 Italians lived in Italian Harlem before its decline in 1930's.
What is left of the old neighborhood can be seen in the few unchanged blocks around 1st Avenue and Pleasant Avenue between 114th and 120th Street. Mostly low level tenements, reminiscent of the East Village, line the main avenues. A handful of Catholic churches and brownstones still exist and provide an oasis in a part of town that is otherwise surrounded by blocks of unappealing Urban Renewal buildings. Patsy's Pizzeria and Rao's are a few of the remaining businesses that are still Italian in this now Spanish enclave. Take the 6 train to 110th Street and walk east towards 1st Avenue.
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