i have only eaten in the northern half of italy, and in restaurants. if there is a pasta dish(a few exceptions) it is the prima piatti, not the main course. the name pasta is i think italian(did not research it) but:Chinese-style noodles have also entered the cuisines of neighboring East Asian countries such as Korea and Japan (jajangmyeon and ramen, for example, are both of Chinese origin), as well as Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, and Cambodia......and Noodles, often made from wheat dough, became a prominent staple of food during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE).

in venice, milan, bologna, restaurants, pasta is not that popular.pasta is very popular in us "red spagtetti mills" as most of the population came from the south of italy, where i gather pasta is very popular.