Five Things to Know About the Italy Pavilion in EPCOT.

The Italy pavilion in EPCOT’s World Showcase is one of the original nine pavilions. As you make your way around the lagoon, you’ll find Italy between Germany and The American Adventure. There’s no attraction to run for at rope drop, but there are plenty of reasons to visit this pavilion! It’s got a festive atmosphere, beautiful architecture, great pizza, and upscale shopportunities.

1. The architecture is a sampler.

The plaza in this pavilion allows you to “visit” different Italian cities all in one place, thanks to the amalgam of architectural styles represented. You’ll see Venetian, Roman, and Florentine styles, while the pavilion as a whole is set up to evoke the feeling of St. Mark’s Square in Venice.

Most guests enter the plaza by passing between two columns. Standing atop one is a winged lion, symbolizing St. Mark, patron saint of Venice. The second depicts St. Theodore stomping on a crocodile, also a patron saint of Venice. Dominating the plaza is the 83-foot-tall belltower, a replica of the St. Mark’s Square original. The angel at the top is embellished with genuine gold leaf. At the heart of the plaza is a replica of the 14th-century Doge’s Palace.

But the influences aren’t all from the Piazza san Marco. The huge fountain is called Fontana Di Nettuno – Italian for The Fountain of Neptune. It’s not a true replica, but it’s meant to evoke the famous Trevi Fountain in Rome.

2. The pavilion almost had an attraction.

The Italy Pavilion opened with EPCOT on October 1, 1982, but it wasn’t officially dedicated until two weeks later on October 14. Each of the original nine pavilions had separate dedication ceremonies. The ceremony included Italian dance and music; doves were released and fireworks were shot off. During the ceremony, Donn Tatum, then Disney senior executive stated, “Within this EPCOT Center community, it has been our hope and our vision that in presenting the various nations of the world, we would be able to expose to the millions of people who will come here— the cultures, the traditions, the heritages, the ambitions, and the viewpoints, and the history of these various countries so as to promote hopefully in the world a better understanding among peoples.”

At that time, the Italy pavilion ended at a fence – hinting that something more was planned. The Italy pavilion on the drawing board included plans for a dark ride in a gondola, a walk through Roman ruins, a restaurant, and more shops. Similar to what happened in the German pavilion, EPCOT budget overruns forced the plans to become part of “Phase IIs”. Which then never occurred. It wasn’t until some 30 years later that the restaurant Via Napoli opened in 2010, completing the pavilion as it stands today.

The ride never materialized, but Italy still has entertainment. Sergio, the juggler, usually performs in front of the campanile several times a day. Mixing humor with amazing dexterity, this show is worth stopping to watch. And audience participation is encouraged! Check the My Disney Experience app for times.

3. Dining in Italy is molto bene!

There are several places to enjoy Italian cuisine in the Italy Pavilion. You can enjoy a meal at Table Service or Quick Service spots, or grab something tasty from a stand. Either way, you can’t go wrong here.

The most popular place to dine is Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria. Open for lunch and dinner, the star here is the pizza. What’s the secret? Authentic ingredients. The mozzarella is imported from Italy. San Marzano tomatoes and genuine Caputo flour are used, too. Then they go one step further and truck in water for the crust from the northeast U.S. because the alkalinity is similar to that of the water in Italy.

They pop the pie into one of three wood-burning ovens, fired up to around 700 degrees, and the thin crust Neapolitan pizza cooks in 2-3 minutes. And it’s all in an open kitchen so you can watch the action! Of course, you can choose from a wide variety of other regional dishes as well. And although some find the restaurant is very noisy, in our opinion, you’re there for the eats. Reservations are highly recommended and go quickly.

Pizza al Taglio is a quick service option next to Via Napoli Pizzeria e Ristorante. Think pizza and beverages but note that this is not the same pizza served at Via Napoli. Still, quick and easy and if you can’t get into a full-service spot or just want something quick and casual, this is a good option.

The other Table Service choice here is Tutto Italia Ristorante which has more of a fine dining atmosphere. Also open for lunch and dinner, you’ll find remarkable desserts and an impressive selection of adult beverages here in addition to the main menu offerings. Attached to Tutto Italia Ristorante is the Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar, a walk-in lounge. It usually opens mid-afternoon and features more than 200 bottles of Italian wines. The menu consists of small plates, including meats and cheeses, panini, pasta, and desserts.

Just looking to satisfy your sweet tooth? Gelateria Toscana is the Quick Service stand to head for. Here, it’s all about the Gelato. Cups, cones, shakes, and delicious “creations.” You can get limoncello floats, espresso, cappuccino, and even hot chocolate here. Lastly, there’s a wine and beer cart near the entrance to the pavilion serving a variety of – yup – red and white wines. Plus beer. And pay attention to the drink and gelato donkey cart! A bone fide Carretto Siciliano, it’s hand-painted with scenes from Sicily’s history. So, it’s not only a refreshment stand, but also a true work of art.

4. Shopping in the Italian style is a luxurious experience.

The Italy Pavilion has three shops for your browsing pleasure. La Bottega Italiana (literally “The Italian Shop”) offers Italian foodstuffs, cookware, and gifts. The standout items here are the hand-painted Venetian masks. (As early as the 13th century, Venetians would hold parties between Christmas and Lent, using elegant masks like these to hide their identities.) If you want, you can paint your own mask (although not in the store!)

Il Bel Cristallo (“the beautiful crystal”) offers exquisite Italian wares, including Murano glass, porcelain, crystal, chic handbags, clothing, and Venetian masks. Connected to it is La Gemma Elegante (“the elegant gem”) which features a selection of leather goods, Venetian masks, perfumes, and more.

5. The pavilion offers entertainment, activities, and a few secrets!

⭐ Like the other pavilions in the World Showcase, Italy has a Kidcot Fun Stop. You can find it outside La Bottega Italiana.

⭐ The Italy Pavilion is one of a few that “stretches” out across the promenade and even into the lagoon. Look for the colorful poles and gondolas across form the main pavilion.

⭐ Hidden Mickeys in Italy? Yup. Approaching from Germany, check out three leaves on a pillar in the shape of our pal. There’s another formed by some rocks in the back of the fountain.  In Italian, Mickey is called Topolino. Suddenly, the name of the restaurant at the Riviera, Topolino’s Terrace, makes a lot of sense.

⭐ The marble on the Doge’s Palace is fiberglass that’s been painted to resemble the actual marble used to build the palace back in the 14th century.

⭐ If you visit Via Napoli, check out the three wood-burning ovens. Each is named after an active volcano in Italy: Mount Etna, Mount Vesuvius, and Stromboli. And each has a face sculpted to resemble the face of the god each volcano is named after.

The Bottom Line.

While the Italy pavilion has no ride or movie, it’s a great place to stroll and linger. The food is fantastic, the beverages are plentiful, and the shops are filled with fine goods. The details that went into creating the plaza alone are worth the visit. Plus, the pavilion offers a good viewing spot for the evening fireworks presentation, Luminous the Symphony of Us.

Have you visited the Italy pavilion? Have any favorite dining experiences? Let us know in the comments!