Craig Bellamy sank Italy and sealed a famous Wales victory with a second-half winner at the Millennium Stadium.
The Welsh resurgence under boss Mark Hughes hit new heights as they recorded only their second win against Italy and surged to the top of Group Nine.
It was night of raw passion in Cardiff - and Wales responded with a performance that matched the mood.
Bellamy created Wales' opener for Simon Davies early in the first half, but an Alessandro Del Piero free kick brought the Azzurri level by half time.
The home side dominated the second half with an energetic, free-flowing display, however, to leave three-time World Cup-winners Italy a well-beaten side.
The Cardiff atmosphere was fervent and furious, with the crowd fired by performances from the Manic Street Preachers and Bryn Terfel.
Wales were quick off the mark with Bellamy and Mark Delaney causing havoc down the right as Wales went ahead after 12 minutes.
Bellamy fed Davies, and Wales' footballer of the year found the perfect angle to beat Buffon.
Italy equalised in the 30th minute, as Del Piero free-kick took a cruel deflection off Mark Delaney and looped over Paul Jones.
Andrea Pirlo and Del Piero went close early in the second half, but then a great piece of skill from Hartson saw him slide the ball into Bellamy's path.
Bellamy, showing no ill effects from his knee injury, out-paced the covering defence, showed the composure to round Buffon, and slid the ball in.
Wales' new spirit then came to the fore as they held on for a well-deserved victory.
Wales: Paul Jones, Delaney, Melville, Gabbidon, Speed, Davies, Savage, Pembridge, Giggs, Bellamy, Hartson. Subs: Page, Johnson, Legg, Earnshaw, Carl Robinson, Weston, Crossley.
Italy: Buffon, Panucci, Cannavaro, Nesta, Zauri, Di Biagio, Ambrosini, Pirlo, Tommasi, Del Piero, Montella. Subs: Abbiati, Adani, Iuliano, Oddo, Gattuso, Maccarone, Marazzina.
Referee: Giles Veissiere (France)
Attendance: 72,500