Located in the second and ninth arrondissements, the boulevard des Italiens was originally established in 1685, but it wasn't until 1783 that the boulevard was given its present name, inspired by the neighboring Théâtre des Italiens. As was the case for most of the major Parisian roadways, the boulevard des Italiens did not have any sidewalks until 1830, thereby impacting the development of outdoor social activities. The enormous growth in Parisian cafés, for example, is what brought the boulevard des Italiens its fame. Home to the city's most popular gathering places, the boulevard provided a place for the upper classes to mingle and stroll.