La Pigna Restored to its Original Beauty on Providence’s Federal Hill
The iconic symbol for the Italian neighborhood was repaired and repainted in time for this weekend's Columbus Day Weekend Festival.
La pigna has been restored on Federal Hill’s famous archway.
The Federal Hill arch was missing its focal point — la pigna, the pinecone dangling from its center — for five weeks, but it’s back, and looking bright, shiny and new. The pinecone — often confused for a pineapple — was installed more than forty-seven years ago at the beginning of Atwells Avenue, and it became a natural symbol for Federal Hill.
The archway was originally designed by Albert Veri Associates and it was installed during former Providence Mayor Vincent A. Cianci, Jr.’s first term as part of the vast improvements made to the city during that time. La pigna serves as a landmark for Providence’s Italian neighborhood, and this is the first time it has been taken down for preservation, as part of an overall $420,000 restoration project that includes the arch and gateway entrance of Federal Hill, as well as benches and planters.
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La pigna was taken down to be restored after an inspection revealed “that the Blizzard of 2026 and subsequent [snowstorms] caused additional damage to the La Pigna that was not present during our late 2025 inspection,'” according to Rick Simone, President of the Federal Hill Commerce Association.
It was removed on Sept. 2 and transported to a controlled environment to be restored. The work was done by E.F. O’Donnell & Sons Co. (la pigna restoration and gilding) and East Coast Masonry (arch, columns, sealing and crane work), businesses that also helped restore the Independent Man. C&K Electric handled the lighting and electrical updates. Yesterday, it was reinstalled with a bright shiny gold leaf exterior replacing the weathered patina, just in time for this weekend’s Columbus Day Weekend Festival. The arch was also cleaned and a new light was added to illuminate it at night.
“After five weeks of extreme restoration and renovation, our La Pigna will return to the Federal Hill Arch just in time for the Galbani Columbus Weekend Festival,” Simone says, “While we still have a few other items being restored, the work on the Arch has reached 75 percent completion and we are excited to showcase the progress made.”
Federal Hill is working with two additional companies for new benches and planters, also coming soon. “The budget was for all of those items. The entire arch needed a lot of restoration,” Simone says. “It’s going to beautify the entranceway to Federal Hill.”
The installation was signed by Governor Dan McKee, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley and others.
A video from when la pigna was taken down.
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