Disney's attention to detail and their replicating skill is beautifully shown at Epcot's Italy pavilion. Inspired by Venice, this pavilion is centred around wondrous replicas of the Doge's Palace and the campanile (a solitary bell tower) of St. Mark's square. It even has gondolas tied to barber-striped moorings at the edge of World Showcase Lagoon! The interesting shops at this pavilion make up for the lack of a main attraction. They include Delizie Italiane, Il Bel Cristallo, and La Bottega Italiana. They sell fine Italian glassware, jewelry, and tempting Italian treats. The only restaurant in the Italy pavilion is L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante, which serves all the usual Italian dishes, plus some that will be new to most non-Italians.
Interesting and little known facts
-the spectacular paintings on the wall of L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante are tromp l'oeil paintings, which means "trick the eye", since they are life-size murals depicting walls with open doors and windows looking out onto a beautiful Italian landscape!
-atop the campanile, Disney has painstakingly recreated the angel which stands on the original, right down to it's real gold leaf, even though it is 100 feet in the air!
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