Come and visit St. Louis's own "Little Italy", The Hill, home to some twenty-eight restaurants and delis plus the childhood homes of Baseball Hall of Famers, Yogi Berra and Joe Garagiola.

Your hosts, Hill native and brother Joe DeGregorio, University of Missouri '15 and Hill resident Sam Martorelli will provide you the opportunity to experience why this beloved neighborhood remains a unique and special destination for visitors and St. Louisans alike. Besides famous restaurants, bakeries, Italian grocery and other specialty stores, the Hill has many other aspects that can educate, charm and delight visitors.

The tour can last between two and six hours depending on activities selected and includes any of the following:

• Homemade ravioli making demonstration and lecture at the Food Network favorite, Mama Toscano's. This fifth generation store is likely the only one left in the US that makes homemade ravioli as their primary product with a multiple ingredients unrivaled anywhere else. It's usually a must-stop on the tour.
• Tours can involve minimal walking or as much as you want. We talk about the colorful history of the area, who was there before, the arrival of the Italians around 1890, why they came and stayed. During your primer on the local Italian culture and customs, you may be surprised at the significant differences between the northern Italian (mostly from Lombardy) and the Sicilian immigrants.
• During the regular tour (specialty tours exist) Joe or Sam will touch on the cultural, religious, culinary, sports, architectural and business aspects of the neighborhood. A visit to historic St. Ambrose Church is included often with an optional Italian piano mini concert by Hill favorite Kieto Ballentine. The challenges of an older city neighborhood trying to preserve its Italian heritage is also discussed. The tour's many choices can be accomplished in almost any weather as many stops are indoors. Flexibility is key on the tour and there are discounts for Senior Centers and students.
• All day you'll hear stories of the hardworking and proud families who built up the neighborhood and their legacy as we take you through the early 1900's, Prohibition, the Great Depression, World War II, the population explosion post-war and where the Hill stands today.