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| 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>'''

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Although Like many of the Italy pavilion was ready for opening dayWorld Showcase pavilions, the Italy pavilion that opened was much different then changed drastically from its early designs to its final construction. When the one originality planned. The pavilion was going initially being designed, Imagineers wanted to include construct an area which was to that would represent Southern Italy. Here, guests This area would be able to go on an have include a dark ride attraction, which where guests would be a gondola ride board gondolas and travel through various Italian scenes. Ever getting off After riding the rideattraction, guests would be deposited released into a the middle of Roman Ruin ruins, which they could then walkthrough attractionand explore <ref name= "Spence"> http://land. After three years of construction however, Epcot was over budgetallears. Disney executives eventually decided net/blogs/jackspence/2011/12/italy_pavilion_part_two_1.html </ref>.  Similar to push back other early plans for World Showcase (such as [[Germany]]'s Rhine River Cruise) plans for the creation Southern Italy section of four attractions, including the Italy onespavilion were pushed back until [[EPCOT Center]]'s Phase II. The original plans This delay was for mentioned in Walt Disney's EPCOT: Creating the attractions to reopen with "Phase IINew World of Tomorrow: {{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 EpcotCenter: Creating the New World of Tomorrow (1982) <ref> Beard, shortly after Richard R. Walt Disney's Epcot Center: Creating the park openedNew World of Tomorrow. New York: Harry N. Abrams,, Publ., 1982. Print. </ref>}} Unfortunately The for the Italy pavilion, the money that was set to be used originally designated for Phase II, the Southern Italy expansion was instead put towards eventually used for the opening construction of [[Horizons]], the [[Journey Into Imagination]] attraction, the 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"/>.  Since its creation , the Italy pavilion has seen a relatively small number of changes. The only major change came in 2007, when L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante closed <Ref name= "Epcot"> The Epcot Explorer's Encyclopedia: A Guide to Walt Disney World's Greatest Theme Park </ref>. Although the restaurant was the most popular in [[Living SeasEpcot]}<ref>https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2007/04/30/story2.html</ref>, Disney chose not to renew the dining contract with the restaurant’s operator Alfredo the Original of Rome Inc <Ref name= "Epcot"/>. Disney’s decision was due in part to the fact that Alfredo had initially promised to construct a second dining location in the pavilion in 1983 <Ref name= "Epcot"/>, which Disney felt was needed in order to meet the dining demand in World Showcase. After no second restaurant was built, and with the initial 25 year contract now up, Disney decided to award the management to a new company- The Patina Restaurant Group <Ref name= "Epcot"/>.  Following Alfredo's closure On August 31, 2007 <ref> https://www.mouseplanet.com/guide/404/Walt-Disney-World//World-Showcase--Italy/LOriginale-Alfredo-di-Roma-Ristorante </ref>, the restaurant was replaced by a new restaurant [[Tutto Italia]], which opened on September 17, 2007 <ref name= "Yesterday"> http://www.yesterland.com/alfredo.html </ref>. Following the change in management, in 2010, Italy finally got a second restaurant [[Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria]] <ref name= "Yesterday"/> . This was followed by the opening of Tutto Gusto (a wine bar) which opened in 2012 <ref> http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2012/05/01/review-the-new-tutto-gusto-wine-cellar-and-tutto-italia-restaurante/ </ref>.

Although not specific to ItalyAt this time, guests travel to the Italy pavilion when playing the interactive Kim Possible World Showcase Adventuredoes not feature any attractions.

'''[[Tutto IlaliaItalia Ristorante]]'''- This table service restaurant offers guests a traditional Italian meal. The restaurant replaced Italy's original restaurantL'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.

'''La Gemma Elegante'''- This shop is famous for it's 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.

==CharactersFun Facts and Trivia <ref name= "Spence"/>=='''Pinocchio'''- Pinocchio can often be found in the * The entire Italy pavilion. faces one plaza (Commonthe "Pizza del Teatro")which features a raised platform (known as "Teatro al Fresco"). Originally the platform was going to be used for live entertainment, but such shows are now performed near the World Showcase Lagoon <ref name="name"> https://www.disneydocs.net/_files/ugd/5db718_0b875a96406e4bc4a103b184e3d1dc11.pdf </ref>.

==Fun Facts and Trivia==* The entrance to focal point of the Italy Pavilion pavilion is marked by two columnsa recreation of the Dodge Palace in Venice. On top * Near the edge of the column on the right is Dodge Palace guests can see a statue of Saint Theodore of Amasea slaying a dragongrotesque face. On top of the column on the left, is a winged lionSculptures such as this were used by Italian citizens to complain about their neighbors or government.

* The Il Bel Cristallo's facade was themed to look like On top of the exterior pavilion’s campanile, guests can see a statue of the Sistine ChapelArchangel Gabriel.

==References==http://progresscityusa.com/2009/03/01/neverworlds-epcots-italy-* A statue of Neptune can also be found in the Italy pavilion-phase-ii/, the sculpture is based on a statue found in Florence, and the Trevi Fountain in Rome.

http://land* The Italy pavilion features a replica of Venice's Doge Kneeling Before the Lion statue.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2011/12/italy_pavilion_part_two_1.html

http:*The Italy pavilion's Campanile di San Marcho (the bell tower of St. Mark's) is 1//disneyworld5 the size of the original in Venice.disney.go.com/dining/tutto-italia-ristorante/

http:* The Italy pavilion's garden is called Giardino del Fiori, which translates to Flower Garden <ref name= "name"/>The walkway from World Showcase Promenade into the Italy pavilion is known as "Via Benvenuit" which literally translates to "welcome way" <ref name="name"/www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?restaurant.ID> ==References==579