It shouldn't come as a surprise that Italy has multiple international communities in its major cities, given the prevalence of Italian neighborhoods abroad, such as Little Italy in New York. However, many people can't mask their surprise when they discover the existence of a tiny piece of London in Rome, affectionately known in Italian as Piccola Londra (Little London). Located in the Flaminio neighborhood, the small private street known as Little London is lined with residences that take their design cues from the capital city of the United Kingdom.

Related: What Daily Life Was Like In Ancient Rome

These two rows of houses on each side of a cobblestone promenade are ideal for homesick British expats in Rome. They have Victorian street lights on wrought-iron gates, English post boxes, and white marble steps leading up to traditional wooden doorways. This tiny street in Roma-Nord looks more like something out of London than Italy, so admirers of the British capital and curious tourists should check it out. What's more, it has a rich and fascinating past as well.

An English-Italian Mayor's Cosmopolitan Dream

Little London, also known as "Piccola Londra," is barely 200 meters in length, but it bears a striking resemblance to the English city.

This fascinating boulevard is a relic from the vision of city planner Edmondo Sanjust di Teulada and mayor Ernesto Nathan, who, in 1909, envisioned Rome as a true European metropolis that would embrace the artistic and cultural developments of the time and serve as a model for the rest of the continent.

Many grand designs for new neighborhoods, highways, and public buildings emerged after 1871, when Rome became Italy's capital, but there needed to be an overarching plan for urban expansion.

Anglo-Italian politician and former mayor of Rome Ernesto Nathan attempted to make these changes.

It was quite a revolution when he was elected mayor of Rome in 1907 because he was both the first mayor of Rome not to originate from the landowning aristocracy and the first mayor of Rome to be Jewish.

Rome's "Little London" Comes to Life

Inspired by other European cities, Nathan and Edmondo Sanjust Teulada created the Piano Regolatore di Roma to prepare Rome for the 50th anniversary of Italy's union.

The plan included public transportation, parks, and various housing options.

It was also the first time the city made a distinction between, say, fabbricati (family apartment structures) and villini (smaller, individual homes) (low-rise buildings).

Even in modern times, residents of Little London still use the term "vilino" alongside a numerical designation to identify their homes.

The very first place to be constructed using the innovative Piano Regolatore was the Flaminio district. With little competition in the area between Via Flaminia and Viale del Vignola, architect Quadrio Pirani was allowed free rein to experiment with a new kind of urban plan due north of the Aurelian walls.

He designed two rows of English Liberty-style homes, each with stairs leading up to the front entrance and a backyard garden for the residents' exclusive use.

Today, the absence of cars on the street completes the illusion, making visitors forget that they're still in the middle of a city.

Related: So You Want To See Victorian London: Use This Guide To Plan Your Trip

Visiting "Little London" Today

An oasis of pastel-painted homes, Victorian street lamps, and teeny-tiny gardens, this neighborhood is the perfect place to relax away from Rome's famously hectic city center.

The peacefulness of this street will enchant visitors at first sight, reminding those who know London of the quiet boulevards of Chelsea and Mayfair in London, neighborhoods frequented by the city's wealthy.

Wooden doors on white pedestals above the pavement create the impression that they belong to Number 10 Downing Street. One of the best-kept secrets in Rome is the modest tea paradise that can be found on Via Bernardo Celentano, between Via Guido Reni and Viale del Vignola, right in the middle of the Flaminio.

A modest, beautiful bar with white parasols out front awaits on this spotless, old-fashioned cobbled street. In this quaint cafe, guests may relax while enjoying a warm tea.

This charming little street is easy to discover, despite its quietness. Just off the Viale del Vignola, on the way to the Teatro Olimpico, is a tiny entrance on the right, from where it's easy to spot this London-like street.

• Where to stay near Little London: River Palace Hotel. Via Flaminia 33, 00196 Rome, Italy. The River Palace, a four-star boutique hotel in the city center's location, provides easy access to the city's many famous landmarks on foot, including the Piazza del Popolo, the gardens of Villa Borghese, the Spanish Steps and their renowned stores, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and Piazza Navona.
• Where to eat: Terrazza delle 5 Lune. Via Giuseppe Zanardelli 23, 00186 Rome, Italy. Terrazza delle 5 Lune is a rooftop restaurant with panoramic views of the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and more. Guests enjoy a fantastic ambiance, especially after sundown—ideal for a memorable evening with loved ones or a special someone.