The Italian Market is that area in Philadelphia, which is very popular for its array of shops ranging from butcher shops, cheese shops, grocery shops, bakeries, restaurants and cafes. This place is referred to as Italian market, especially because of the immigrants from Italy, who moved into this area. If you thought that it is just an area enclosing shops and restaurants then it is wrong as you can have lots of fun here with the yearly festival featuring music, food and many other activities.

You will find many shops here which offer a variety of cultural specialty food and fresh produce. The market is open usually from 9 am in the morning to 5 pm in the evening but the time may vary from shop to shop. Together with the traditional shops you will also find expensive gift stores, comfortable cafes and high quality gourmet shops which cater to needs of people of different generations.

This market is the largest and the oldest outdoor market in Philadelphia. One can also find seafood from different parts of Pennsylvania here in this market. And the kitchen supply stores, sandwich shops or the spice stores are some of the other features of this market. This market is an integral part of the culture prevailing here.

You can find various tips on things that must be visited in the Italian market and about the happening events that takes place here online.

Italian Market, located in 9th Street of Philadelphia, originated in the form of market in the later 19th and early 20th century, now is the oldest & largest active outdoor market in America. It is a great place to experience and discover in person. You can either spend a day just hanging out for in-depth exploration of a diversity of products, or enjoy the taste of Philadelphia at an array of cafes, food courts, restaurants while admiring the sights leisurely.

Italian Market on Wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Market,_Philadelphia,_Pennsylvania

Though Italian is the predominant element, the market has the best display of multi-cultures, cuisines and blends for shoppers and visitors all over the world. 9th Street area is also a community where people live as a part of South Philadelphia for nearly one hundred years. Visitors can always feel secure and safe when shopping in this area for people look out for each other here. Given all these facts above, there is no wonder that Italian Market has been awarded as "Best of Philly" for 15 times. Never waste time and come to experience this stunning ideal called Philadelphia Italian Market!

Italian Market

http://www.phillyitalianmarket.com/

General Hours of the Market: Italian Market is operated six days a week, except Monday. On Tuesday through Saturday, it opens to the public from 9am to 5pm. On Sunday, it operates from 9am to 2 pm.

When it comes to hours of separate stores, vendors, and stands inside, though many of them are coincident with the market's general hours, there are a few exceptions. Next we will introduce an hours guide of stores whose operation hours differ from the market's.

- D'Angelo Bros: Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm / Sunday from 10am to 2pm.

Centrally located in the Italian Market, D'Angelo Bros has come to its third generation for retail meat. Committing to superior quality products, this store also provides two cookbooks containing mouth-watering recipes on how to cook meats.

- DiBruno's Cheese: Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm (Eastern Standard Time).

This family-owned store stocks an amazingly large variety of cheese and grocery items. It was initially introduced into the market in 1939, and over 70 years development, DiBruno brothers have managed to establish themselves as the largest cheese supplier to Philadelphians, along with another branch store in Rittenhouse Square.

- Fante's Gourmet & Kitchen Wares: Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5:30 pm, and from 9:30am to 12:30pm on Sunday.

Fante's is one of the oldest and most celebrated sources for cooks' wares founded in 1906. Here you can find everything you need at your kitchen, to some degree, more than you can imagine.

As we have mentioned, a large variety of stores cluster in Italian Market, offering products of a wide category ranging from food, coffee and tea to flowers, jewelry and herbs. For visitors going to the market, you can check out the list of store categories on the website below to get to the items you need directly.

Products Categories

http://www.phillyitalianmarket.com/market/categories/categories.htm

Now come to the question that where Italian Market is located. The market runs from Wharton Street at the south to Fitzwater Street at the north, and is also used to describe the large neighborhood adjacent to South Street and North Street. Let's locate the market on Google Map.

Italian Market on Map

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&q=9th+street+italian+market

Directions to the Market

http://www.phillyitalianmarket.com/contact/map.htm

Simply referred to as 9th Street, the Italian Market is the popular name for the South 9th Street Curb Market. It is the oldest and largest working outdoor market in the nation, serving as home to many grocery shops, cafes, restaurants, bakeries, cheese shops, butcher shops and more.

If you are looking for an entirely different shopping experience, do pay a visit to the 9th Street, where you can almost see back in time and live the immigrant experience. It offers the best of many cultures and cuisines to the shoppers. You will also be treated to fresh, authentic food and personalized attention for generations.

Where is the Italian Market located? As the nickname "9th Street" implies, the Italian Market is located at 9th Street in Philadelphia, running from Wharton Street at the south to Fitzwater Street at the north. The heart of the historic Italian Market is the area of 9th Street between Christian Street and Washington Avenue.

The term Italian Market can also be set down as the close-by neighborhood between South Street to the North and Wharton Street to the South running a few blocks to the east and west of 9th Street. It is completely contained in the Bella Vista neighborhood.

Get a glimpse at the following map to have a better understanding of its location and surrounding area to make your planning easier.

Map of the 9th Street Area

http://www.phillyitalianmarket.com/contact/9thst.gif

Map of Hotels near Italian Market

http://www.tripadvisor.in/LocalMaps-g60795-d518206-Italian_Market-Area.html

Route Map to the Italian Market

http://www.planetware.com/map-of/usa/philadelphia/italian-market-us-pa-ital.htm

How to get to the Italian Market? Adjacent to I-95, Italian Market is easily accessible from many directions. For visitors who plan on driving to the location, equip yourself with the following driving directions to the market to make your trip a breeze.

1) From I-95

For visitors who take I-95 from points north or south towards Philadelphia, you are suggested to take the PA-611 North / Broad Street exit (Exit 14) towards Pattison Avenue. Merge onto S Broad Street. Make a right onto E Passyunk Avenue. Turn right onto Wharton Street.

2) From Philadelphia International Airport

If driving from Philadelphia International Airport, head east. Take the ramp to I-95 N. Keep left at the fork and follow signs to Philadelphia / I-95 N. Merge onto I-95 N. Take exit 17 to merge onto PA-611 N/S Broad Street towards Pattison Avenue. Make a right at Morris Street. Turn left at S 9th Street.

3) From Points West

If you are coming from points west, take US-422 E. Use the exit towards King of Prussia Industrial Park. Make a right onto N Gulph Road. Take a slight left to take the I-76 east ramp towards Philadelphia. Merge onto I-76 E. Then take the I-676 east / US-30 east exit (Exit 38), on the left towards Central Philadelphia. After merging onto Vine Street Exwy, take the exit towards Broad Street / Central Philadelphia. Turn right onto N 15th Street. Take a left onto S Penn Square. In succession, turn right onto S Broad Street and turn left onto Washington Avenue. Make a right onto S 10th Street. Then turn left onto Wharton Street.

If you are pondering where to spend you weekend, then you need not look further since the Italian Market festival has a host of events lined for each and every weekend and even week days. Its one of the few places where you can expect to eat good food, enjoy lots and lots of games and family-friendly fun and also watch live performances by artists from within and without the city of Philadelphia.

http://philadelphiamoms.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/05/italian-market-festival.html

1. What's the Italian Market?

Refers to the South 9th street curb market in the city of Philadelphia featuring a good number of grocery shops, cafes, shops, restaurants, butchery and several other structures all sharing the Italian influence. Its also refers to the surrounding neighborhoods especially the Bella Vista neighborhood. This market plays a very big role in the Philadelphian culture no wonder it's always depicted as a cultural center of the city of Philadelphia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Market_(Philadelphia)#Today.27s_Italian_Market

2. Hotels and restaurants operating in the Italian market festival

A good number of hotels in center city Philadelphia serve the guests who flock the Italian market festival at any given occasion. This is due to their close proximity with this cultural center in the heart of the city. There are also other restaurants operating right inside the Italian market.

The Italian Market in Philadelphia is popularly known as the Curb Market of South 9th Street. The area became the famous marketplace during later 19th century and early 20th century when Italian immigrants started moving in the William Penn's dream city. And to serve this Italian crowd the market came into existence.

Today, the 9th Street market is an outdoor market where you will get shops selling variety of things. From finest bakeries, cafes, restaurants to grocery shops, butcher shops are found here. With the great metal awnings the shops in the Italian Market are open round the year. But most of the shops are closed on Mondays.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Market_(Philadelphia)

In recent years, huge number of South American, Chinese and Korean immigrants has come to this place and has opened their shops in this open market. The multi colored and multi cultured Italian Market is thus considered to be a significant area representing the rich and colorful cultural heritage of Philadelphia.

Market Attractions

The Italian Market in Philadelphia also hosts an Annual Market Festival which includes shops, music, activities and most of all the exquisite traditional and innovative foods.

To experience the real essence of the Italian Market you can join the Italian Market Tour conducted by historian Mr. Celeste A Morello, who will take you to the famous shops from where the world renowned chefs purchase their cooking items and raw materials.

http://www.italianmarkettour.com/

Philadelphia Italian Market is the oldest outdoor market in America. Tourists love this place for its unique flavor.

There are many high class Philadelphia hotels near the Italian Market Philadelphia. So, to get the maximum exposure to this magnificent market you must choose the best Philadelphia Pennsylvania hotel for staying.

Some great hotels located near the Italian Market Philadelphia

The Independent: 0.69miles from Italian Market

http://www.theindependant.com/

Holiday Inn Express Midtown: 0.79miles

http://www.HolidayInn.com/

Sheraton Society Hill Philadelphia: 0.88miles

http://www.Sheraton.com/SocietyHill

Omni Hotel At Independence Park: 0.9miles

http://www.omnihotels.com/

Loews hotel: 0.94miles

http://www.loews.com/