ITALY

Architectural elements of Venice stand at the showcase entrance, including the Doge’s Palace with elegant decoration, and a scaled-down version of the Campanile (bell tower) of St. Mark’s Square.

Complementing these buildings are Venetian bridges, gondolas, colorful barber poles and a sculpture of the Lion of St. Mark atop a column.

The promenade paving is patterned after St. Mark’s. Other buildings are composites of architecture found throughout Italy.

The garden wall enclosing the piazza is typical of Rome and Florence. Sculptures include a heroic version of Bernini’s Neptune Fountain, based on the original in Florence and the Fountain of Trevi in Rome.

One of the most interesting parts of this area is the forced perspective that is created. While most of the others are closed in a horseshoe shape, the Italy pavilion is open in the rear, drawing your eyes to the Italian cypress trees in the background. This architectural sleight of hand, along with the help of carefully planned landscaping, tricks the eye into believing the area is larger than it really is.

Container gardens bring the architecture to life here. Grapevines on the trellis and near the statue in the rear further enhance the Italy theme. Olive trees also can be found just outside of the Delizie Italiane, but no fruit is produced by these trees because of Florida’s humidity. Near the gondolas, citrus and kumquat trees are planted to represent the Mediterranean region of Italy.

---

Attractions & Live Entertainment None Pal Mickey Interaction Dining L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante Shopping Delizie Italiane - Italian chocolate and confectionary Il Bel Cristallo - Offers fine leather purses and wallets, silk scarves and ties, Gucci, Armani, Dolce e Gabbana Perfumes, Giuseppe Armani ceramic figurines, Venetian glass jewelry, and gold and silver jewelry. La Bottega - Offers Florentine desktop products, Venetian masks and crystals, and a selection of wines, books and chocolates.

Tips & Fun Facts Don't miss the gondola's which are moored at the front of the Italy Isola viewing area. This pavilion has olive, kumquat and cypress trees — all typical of Italy. The promenade paving is patterned after St. Mark's Square in Venice. One of the statues on top of the columns at the square's entrance shows Theodore and the Dragon. The other statue is of the Lion of St Mark, protector of the city of Venice. Hidden Mickeys One of the pillars at the front of the pavilion (nearest Germany) features three leaves at the top that form a Mickey shape Related Links Google Maps Park Map Photos