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Italy
,/* Fun Facts and Trivia */
{{Template:Infobox Disney ride |
| image=ItalypavilionItalypavilion2.jpg| caption='''The Italy pavilion as seen from across the World Showcase Lagoonat night.Photo by Don Sullivan<ref>https://www.flickr.com/photos/donsullivan/11763839655/in/photolist-iVwKFD-EhfX1-EhfWW-BzPDUe-C2A55n-BbPxRA-EgKqF-Bcyhkt-nDzbg8-BbX4ZB-C71YVW-5rXzha-cMT2SS-75hnje-hgkWHr-9tHzXt-4H7Hd5-5s2UGG-iPfQFW-bcLBFx-9shteQ-iiR4pz-TdS8AH-9e8cH5-9TfKb4-btUGC5-6ACfp6-2492UqC-23RBH3T-7c7npx-7cbdeC-77ufQW-7cbd9A-9uuzKq-9TyKP1-pys9jm-7cbdKL-eufdd-7hA3gF-7hA4BB-7hA4Kv-bCRiUJ-7hA4vX-9TvJkg-8d1AJh-6MqeEy-r5HWA-CfMHQ-6ACn88-EmrNrp</ref>'''
| Country=Italy
| land=World Showcase
| custom_label_2 = Number of Restaurants
| custom_value_2= Two}}
Italy is a pavilion located within World Showcase in [[Epcot]]. It is located between the [[Germany]] pavilion and [[The American Adventure]] pavilion.
==History==
Like many of the World Showcase pavilions, the Italy pavilion changed drastically from its early designs to its final construction. When the pavilion was initially being designed, Imagineers wanted to construct an area that would represent Southern Italy which . This area would have include a dark ride attraction, where guests would board gondolas and travel through various Italian scenes. After riding the attraction, guests would be released into the middle of Roman ruins, which they could then walkthrough and explore<ref name= "Spence"> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2011/12/italy_pavilion_part_two_1.html </ref>.
{{Quotation|"Few buildings remain perfectly preserved as they were when new. Over the centuries, landlords change; one year they are prosperous, and they build on additions. The next year they’re a little short of funds, so they tear down part of the structure and sell the stones.<br>
In a sense, the Italy pavilion itself is a victim of this cycle of fortune; the area which was to represent Southern Italy – not to mention a splendid replica of Roman ruins – may not be completed until 1983."| Walt Disney's Epcot Center: Creating the New World of Tomorrow (1982)<ref> Beard, Richard R. Walt Disney's Epcot Center: Creating the New World of Tomorrow. New York: Harry N. Abrams,, Publ., 1982. Print. </ref>}}
Unfortunately for the Italy pavilion, the money that was originally designated for the Southern Italy expansion was eventually used for the construction of [[Horizons]], [[Journey Into Imagination]], and [[Morocco]] as well as early work on [[The Living Seas]]<ref> http://progresscityusa.com/2009/03/01/neverworlds-epcots-italy-pavilion-phase-ii/ </ref>.[[Image:Italypanorama.jpg|500px|thumb|A panorama of the Italy pavilion by Michael Gray]] Although without a feature attraction, Italy did open with the rest of World Showcase on October 1, 1982. The pavilion was designed to feature Florentine, Venetian, and Roman architecture, including a 100 ft. recreation of St Mark's Campanile (a bell tower) <ref name= "Spence"/>. When the pavilion opened, it housed one restaurant “L’Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante” and two shops “La Gemma Elegante” and “Il Belle Cristallo” <ref name= "Spence"/>. The pavilion is also home to the Theatre al Fresco where various street performers have been found over the years<ref name= "Spence"/>.
==Attractions==
==Restaurants==
'''[[Tutto IlaliaItalia Ristorante]]'''- This table service restaurant offers guests a traditional Italian meal. The restaurant replaced Italy's original restaurant L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante.
'''[[Via NopoliNapoli Ristorante e Pizzeria]]'''- The newest dining option in Italy, Via Nopoli Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria is a table service restaurant. The restaurant specializes specializing in pizza and is located near the back . '''[[Tutto Gusto]]-''' This wine bar, which opened in 2012, features over 200 bottles of the Italy pavilionItalian wines in addition to beer and a small plates menu.
==Shopping==
'''La Gemma Elegante'''- This shop is famous for its Venetian masks. La Gemma Eleqante translates to "The Eloquent Gem" in English.
'''Il Belle Cristallo'''-This large store sells jewelry, leather goods , and clothing. Il Belle Cristallo translates to "The Beautiful Crystal" in English.
==Fun Facts and Trivia<ref name= "Spence"/>==* The entrance to the entire Italy Pavilion is marked by two columns. On top of pavilion faces one plaza (the column on the right is "Pizza del Teatro") which features a statue of Saint Theodore of Amasea slaying a dragonraised platform (known as "Teatro al Fresco"). On top of Originally the column on the leftplatform was going to be used for live entertainment, is a winged lionbut such shows are now performed near the World Showcase Lagoon <ref name="name"> https://www.disneydocs.net/_files/ugd/5db718_0b875a96406e4bc4a103b184e3d1dc11.pdf </ref>.
* Il Bel Cristallo's facade was themed to look like The focal point of the exterior pavilion is a recreation of the Sistine ChapelDodge Palace in Venice. * Near the edge of the Dodge Palace guests can see a statue of a grotesque face. Sculptures such as this were used by Italian citizens to complain about their neighbors or government.