Epcot World Showcase - Italy
Italy Pavilion
The Italy Pavilion at EPCOT is located in World Showcase between the Germany and The American Adventure pavilions. This romantic pavilion celebrates the architecture, food, wine, shopping, gardens, and public squares of Italy, with design details inspired by Venice, Florence, and Rome. Guests can enjoy Italian dining, wine, gelato, pizza, shopping, live entertainment, and some of the most scenic photo spots in World Showcase.
The 83-foot bell tower in the Italy Pavilion is an authentic-style replica of the original campanile in St. Mark’s Square in Venice. Great attention was paid to detail, including the angel at the top of the bell tower, which is covered with real gold leaf even though it sits high above the pavilion.
The romance of Venice is represented through Venetian bridges, decorative poles, lagoon-side details, and gondolas moored along World Showcase Lagoon. The pavilion’s central plaza, known as Plaza del Teatro, creates the feeling of a grand Italian square where guests can gather, dine, shop, and enjoy entertainment.
A spectacular replica of the 14th-century pink and white Doge’s Palace adds another signature architectural detail to the pavilion. In the central plaza, guests will also find the Fontana de Nettuno, a fountain inspired by Bernini’s Neptune fountain. The Italy Pavilion does not have a ride, but its architecture, dining, shops, gardens, and entertainment make it a worthwhile stop while touring World Showcase.
The landscaping of the Italy Pavilion will delight gardening fans with olive trees, Mediterranean citrus, kumquat trees, cypress, pines, and formal garden areas that help create the atmosphere of an Italian piazza.
- Location: World Showcase at EPCOT, between Germany and The American Adventure.
- Opening date: October 1, 1982, with the opening of EPCOT Center.
- Main restaurants: Tutto Italia Ristorante and Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria.
- Wine lounge: Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar.
- Quick-service options: Pizza al Taglio and Gelateria Toscana.
- Main shopping: Il Bel Cristallo, La Gemma Elegante, and La Bottega Italiana.
- Popular photo spots: The campanile, gondolas, Neptune fountain, bridges, and plaza.
- Best for: Italian dining, pizza, wine, gelato, architecture, gondola photos, Venetian masks, Murano glass, and World Showcase atmosphere.
The Italy Pavilion is one of EPCOT’s strongest dining areas, with table-service restaurants, a wine cellar, pizza by the slice, gelato, pastries, Italian wine, cocktails, and seasonal festival offerings. Guests can enjoy a full Italian meal, a quick slice of pizza, a glass of wine, or a sweet treat while exploring World Showcase.
Authentic Italian cuisine is found at the full-service Tutto Italia Ristorante. This restaurant uses wall murals, dark wood booths, banquettes, and warm décor to make guests feel as if they have stepped out of the theme park and into an Italian restaurant. Menu items can include pasta, seafood, chicken, steak, antipasti, desserts, Italian wine, and classic Italian-inspired dishes.
Located near Tutto Italia is Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar. This intimate lounge is designed to feel like an Italian wine cellar, with stone walls, rustic wood beams, brick arches, and a cozy atmosphere. Guests can enjoy Italian wine, cocktails, small plates, cheeses, pasta, panini-style offerings, seafood, and desserts.
Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria is an Italian pizzeria and restaurant inspired by the architecture of Florence. The restaurant features an open kitchen where guests can watch pizzas being prepared and baked in large wood-burning ovens. Via Napoli is especially popular for pizza, pasta, salads, desserts, and Italian beverages.
Located near Via Napoli is Pizza al Taglio, a walk-up window serving pizza by the slice along with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. This is a convenient option for guests who want a quicker bite in the Italy Pavilion.
Gelateria Toscana serves gelato, sorbetti, gelato floats, milkshakes, specialty desserts, coffee, wine, beer, and cocktails. This is a good stop for guests looking for a sweet treat while walking around World Showcase.
The Italy Pavilion also has carts and festival kiosks at different times of the year where guests may find Italian pastries, wines, cocktails, and seasonal dishes.
The Italy Pavilion has several shops offering a broad variety of Italian merchandise, including Venetian masks, Murano-style glass, crystal, porcelain, jewelry, perfumes, leather goods, handbags, Ferrari merchandise, cookbooks, Italian food items, wine, espresso, snacks, and gifts.
Il Bel Cristallo is one of the main shopping locations in the Italy Pavilion. Guests can find Italian wares such as Murano glass, crystal, porcelain, handbags, clothing, accessories, jewelry, Venetian-inspired gifts, perfumes, and decorative pieces.
La Gemma Elegante offers elegant Italian merchandise, including jewelry, accessories, handbags, fragrances, and stylish gifts. La Bottega Italiana is a good stop for wine, cookware, kitchen accessories, home décor, Italian foodstuffs, and gifts tied to Italian dining and culture.
Guests may also find fine Florentine soaps, Illy espresso coffee, handmade paper mâché Venetian masks, creamy Italian chocolates, traditional snacks, Italian wines, and cookbooks covering Rome, Tuscany, Naples, Italian farmhouse cooking, and regional cuisine.
The Italy Pavilion does not have a ride or film attraction, but it offers architecture, gardens, dining, shopping, photo locations, and live entertainment. The plaza, fountain, gondolas, bell tower, and Venetian-inspired details make the pavilion especially popular for photos.
Entertainment offerings can change, but the Italy Pavilion has featured Sergio, a master juggler and mime who entertains guests with juggling, humor, and light-hearted street performance. Check the My Disney Experience app or the daily EPCOT entertainment schedule for current showtimes and offerings.
- The Italy Pavilion opened with EPCOT Center on October 1, 1982.
- The pavilion is inspired by several Italian cities, including Venice, Florence, and Rome.
- The 83-foot campanile is based on the bell tower in St. Mark’s Square in Venice.
- The angel at the top of the bell tower is covered with real gold leaf.
- The Doge’s Palace-inspired building is one of the pavilion’s most recognizable architectural features.
- The Fontana de Nettuno is inspired by Bernini’s Neptune fountain.
- The gondolas along World Showcase Lagoon help create the pavilion’s Venetian atmosphere.
- Via Napoli is known for its large pizza ovens and open kitchen.
- Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar is designed to resemble a rustic Italian wine cellar.
- The Italy Pavilion is one of the best World Showcase stops for wine, pizza, gelato, Venetian masks, glassware, and romantic photo spots.
FUN FACT: To say "hello" in Italian, say "buon giorno" (boo-on JOR-no).
HIDDEN MICKEYS: Look at the bottom right corner sculpture to see three leaves in the shape of a distinct Mickey.
All areas of the Italy Pavilion are wheelchair accessible.
