Italy Pavilion, Italian themed area in World Showcase at Epcot, United States.
The Italy Pavilion is an Italian-themed area in Epcot's World Showcase featuring architecture inspired by Venice, Florence, and Rome. Replicas of St Mark's Campanile and the Doge's Palace frame the space, with restaurants and artisan workshops creating a living recreation of Italian urban life.
The pavilion opened on October 1, 1982, as part of Epcot's World Showcase, debuting alongside other national areas designed to celebrate world cultures. Its design drew from classic Italian cities to represent the nation's artistic and architectural legacy.
Musicians perform in the piazza while mask artisans demonstrate their craft by hand-painting designs in a workshop space. This tradition connects visitors to the centuries-old practice of Venetian mask-making that remains alive today.
The pavilion has several dining options: one focuses on Neapolitan pizza, another on traditional Italian dishes, and a third on wines and small plates. These restaurants are popular and reservations beforehand help secure a table more easily.
Three wood-burning ovens at the pizza restaurant are named after Italian volcanoes and use spring water from Pennsylvania to make authentic Neapolitan pizza dough. This blend of Italian volcanic names with American regional water creates an unexpected connection between two distant places.
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