[DISTRICT: LITTLE ITALY]
Located towards the north end of St-Laurent Boulevard, this is the area where the first Italian immigrants settled in Montreal. The district is now crammed with shops, restaurants, cafes and bars. There is a festival atmosphere year-round as businesses vie with one another to attract customers and the streets overflow with pedestrians and fancy sports cars on weekends.

The hub of the neighborhood is the Jean Talon Market. As authentic an open air market as you're likely to find anywhere in North America, the market features fine foods and produce year-round (not to miss are Quebec's superb cheeses and ice-ciders).

A favorite meeting ground is the diminutive Dante Park. Located adjacent to the church of 'La Difesa', the park boasts a southern European charm, including a busy bocce court that attracts players from all over the city.

A little further north is Jarry Park, one of the largest parks in the metropolitan area. The stadium hosts international tennis tournaments, including the Canadian Open and the Rogers Cup.