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A major force behind the immigrant influx was six Italian families, leading businessmen of Philadelphia, who arranged for Italians to find employment. The best known was Frank DiBerardino who sent agents to Italy to recruit Italians to work as laborers for the Pennsylvania Railroad and other major employers. DiBerardino loaned money for steamship passage, and helped the immigrants navigate the immigration process and get settled in their new homeland. The newly arrived Italians worked in factories and in construction, helping to build Philadelphia’s transportation system and suburban railroads. Soon the Italians occupied most of South Philadelphia, extending all the way to the Delaware River.


Recently the Little Italy neighborhood of Philadelphia was made famous from the Rocky movies, featuring Sylvester Stallone whose father was an Italian immigrant, and occupies a working class, waterfront neighborhood in the South Philly section. The neighborhood is home to some of the best food in the city and home to both century-old Italian eateries and a wave of newer restaurants serving more upscale Italian cuisine.