Here’s a quirky detail: North Beach has a torpedo problem. No, really. During WWII, the Italian Swiss Colony winery stored torpedoes in a basement here.
Today, that same basement is a pizzeria. You might bite into a slice of pepperoni, sitting inches from where naval destruction once sat. Mamma mia.
Little Italy, San Francisco: Best spots to eat and drink
Also, look up. Many buildings have fake facades. After the 1906 earthquake, owners rebuilt quickly… and cheaply. They slapped on a pretty front to hide the messy rebuild. It’s architectural trickery, and it’s delightful.
The Church of the Tough Guys
Head to SS. Peter and Paul Church. It’s the grand, white cathedral that dominates the skyline. Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio took their wedding photos here in 1954.
But here’s the twist: they couldn’t actually get married inside. She was divorced. So they staged the photos outside. The church doors remained closed. Drama.
Also, this church held funerals for local mafia bosses. Yes, real-life gangsters. The pews have seen both saintly prayers and shady deals. You can’t make this stuff up.
