University Village

Italian ice,the origins of the hotdog and backpack-toting college students are just a sampling of the rich cultural backdrop of this near southwest side Chicago setting.University Village/Little Italy is a union of two separate communities that have merged as one, bringing the best of both worlds to a single Chicago neighborhood. The University of Illinois Chicago campus instills a collegiate sensibility with faculty and students milling about, while the blocks of Little Italy present a much quainter appeal with friendly front stoops occupied by groups of neighbors gathered to chat. Much anticipated Little Italy street festivals and holiday parades give community members even more reason to congregate, along with throngs of other Chicagoans who come to partake in the fun. Lying catty-corner to the Chicago Loop, this neighborhood's proximity to the bustling city center is convenient, without marring the area's characteristic Old World charm. A quick ride on the Blue Line Eltrain or a short trip on the Eisenhower Expressway will get you right downtown in minutes.