Delfino Plaza

Delfino Plaza is the main hub of Isle Delfino, lying at the nose of the dolphin-shaped island, first appearing in Super Mario Sunshine. It is located at the foot of Corona Mountain and is named for the island it is located on. It is inhabited by Piantas and Raccoons.

Super Mario Sunshine
Delfino Plaza is the central location on Isle Delfino where Mario, Peach, and the Toads go to enjoy their vacation in Super Mario Sunshine. It is the largest city in the game and features a few landmarks, including the Shine Gate and the Grand Pianta Statue. It also houses a lighthouse, a Boathouse, and multiple small fruit stands. The Piantas that inhabit Delfino Plaza rely heavily on the presence of the many Shine Sprites as a source of safety and comfort. However, after Shadow Mario polluted the island with toxic graffiti, the Shine Sprites fled, casting Delfino Plaza into darkness. The island's inhabitants subsequently blamed Mario for the mess, and therefore tasked him with the cleaning of the entire island. After Mario chases and defeats Shadow Mario in Episode 7 of every level, Shadow Mario releases boiling water from Corona Mountain, flooding Delfino Plaza and forcing the citizens to retreat to their rooftops for safety. In addition, there is a large sewer system built directly under the town, which contains many coins, Blue Coins, and 1-Up Mushrooms.

Delfino Plaza also serves as the hub world of the game, as all seven main levels can be accessed from here, and Mario will return to the plaza after exiting a level as well. Bianco Hills, Ricco Harbor, and Gelato Beach can all be accessed via the Rainbow M portals that are located on the Grand Pianta Statue, the Boathouse, and the lighthouse respectively. Pinna Park can be accessed via a cannon on the west side of Delfino Plaza, and Noki Bay can be entered by staring at the sun while standing on a picture of a Shine Sprite in the port. Sirena Beach and Pianta Village are both accessed by means of red Warp Pipes, which are located on a local rooftop and the Shine Gate respectively. Once unlocked, Corona Mountain can be entered via a small cave directly behind the Shine Gate. After Corona Mountain is accessed at least once, even if Bowser has not yet been defeated, a boat will appear near the Boathouse, which will take Mario back to Delfino Airstrip for a 10-coin fare. As more Shine Sprites are collected, different events will play out and the plaza will keep on getting brighter until they are all collected or Bowser is defeated.

There are multiple events specific to Delfino Plaza only, which gradually become more frequent as the game progresses. They are listed as follows:

Shine Sprites
Fifteen Shine Sprites can be collected in Delfino Plaza by accomplishing certain tasks. Additionally, like with the other courses, the player can earn a Shine Sprite by collecting a hundred coins.

Coconut

 * 1-2. In the fruit market in the southwest corner of the city
 * 3. Rooftop near the entrance to Pinna Park
 * 4-6. Northeast fruit market
 * 7-9. In the tree on the island to the far west

Durian

 * 1-2. In the fruit market up the pier from the Boathouse
 * 3-5. Northeast fruit market

Papaya

 * 1. Rooftop near the Boathouse
 * 2-3. In the fountain next to the entrance to Noki Bay (Not in the Japanese version)
 * 4-6. Fruit market to the east

Pineapple

 * 1. Rooftop near the entrance to Pinna Park
 * 2-4. Fruit market to the east
 * 5-6. In the fountain directly north of the Grand Pianta Statue (Not in the Japanese version)

Pepper

 * 1-4. Eastern fruit market

Banana
During the flood, all fruits are on a southeastern rooftop
 * 1-4. Southeast fruit market
 * 5. Southeast rooftop
 * 6. Tree directly northwest of the Grand Pianta Statue
 * 7. Tiny tower to the far south (in the ocean)

Mario Party 6
In Mario Party 6, Delfino Plaza serves as the setting for the Donkey Kong minigame Banana Shake. Additionally, a pier resembling the one near the entrance to Noki Bay (though with a Star in the floor design instead of a Shine Sprite and no fountain) appears in Pier Factor.

Fortune Street series


Delfino Plaza makes appearances in both Itadaki Street DS and Fortune Street. It looks identical to its appearance in Super Mario Sunshine.

Super Smash Bros. series
Delfino Plaza appears as a stage in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It takes place mostly in the skies of Delfino Plaza, on a set of floating platforms. The platforms frequently land in different areas of the Plaza, changing the stage layout of the fight. For example, the platform may land in front of where the Grand Pianta Statue is. The platforms soon appear again and take the fighters to a different area.

Mario Power Tennis


A Delfino Plaza Court appears in Mario Power Tennis. If the player chooses to play without gimmicks, the court has a zig-zag pattern with bright, neon colors. If the player plays with gimmicks, the court turns a greenish-blueish color with 3 circles that have Petey Piranha's face on them. If the ball touches the circle, a Proto Piranha will pop up out of the goop next to the court and spit goop on the circle. The goop slows the player down, but it can be removed by stepping on the FLUDD circle next to it.

Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games
Delfino Plaza appears in Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games as a Dream Event for Snow Day Street Hockey. There are 3 different arenas located on different parts of the plaza, one at the Grand Pianta Statue, one in the market place and another around houses near the cannon. Each arena has its own layout and hazards; the Grand Pianta Statue arena having banana peels and bouncy mushrooms on each side of the rink, the market place being full of brick blocks that can be turned into coins and the house rink having small holes in the wall the puck can go through. After doing so, a Pianta will throw a shell onto the rink which will act as the puck.

Minecraft
Delfino Plaza appears in the premade world for the Super Mario Mash-up in Minecraft.

Super Mario Sunshine
''Tourists get off the ferries here, in Isle Delfino's largest city. Attractions include the Shine Gate and Grand Pianta Statue.''

Fortune Street
"The largest metropolis on the southern resort of Isle Delfino. Once it was graffitied all over by the incorrigible Bowser Jr."

Music
The music and theme of Delfino Plaza invokes Italian folk music. The melody alternates between guitar and accordion, while another guitar provides rhythm and an upright bass adds the bassline. The melodies from Ricco Harbor, Gelato Beach, Bianco Hills, and The Staff Roll are all arrangements of Delfino Plaza's melody and are all written by Koji Kondo.

The original song and arrangements of it have also appeared in later games.
 * Part of Delfino Plaza's music plays during the Awards Ceremony in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
 * An arrangement of Delfino Plaza's music plays as the music for Sunshine Isles in Super Mario 64 DS.
 * An arrangement of the music is available as one of the songs that can be played during events in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games and Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
 * The original version of Delfino Plaza's music is available as one of the songs can be played on the stage of the same name in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. An arrangement of the music is available as one of the songs that can be played during matches on Mario-series stages in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
 * Delfino Plaza's music is available as one of the sound effects in Super Mario Maker 2, represented by a Nintendo GameCube icon.

Trivia

 * The signs in Delfino Plaza that read "Benvenuto" (welcome), are written in Italian.
 * In the prison bell tower, there is a nearly inaccessible Rocket Nozzle box that can be attained through glitching.