Ciao David,
Welcome to APUG. I have several family and friends in Italia and have been to Italia several times, (although Rome only two or three times... but I did enjoy my visits to Rome of course). My nost recent visit was to take Italian lessons at a home stay in Viterbo for a couple of weeks and then three more weeks of formal Italian language instruction (class room) in Assisi. Alas, my Italian is again, and still is, very poor due to lack of use. I want to return to Marta and the lake to photograph again some day. My Grandfather immigrated from Vidracco (Piedmont region) after serving in the Alpini during World War I.