Probably the best way to begin to see Italy is to sign up for one of the many commercial tours. Pick one that allows you maximum free time so you can roam away from the rest of the group at times. To rent a car- well..... the streets are narrow and European drivers make New York taxi drivers look like little old ladies, especially around Naples. You could also take public transport but some of the staff are not very English fluent and strikes may also occur at the most inappropriate times. The only exception to this is around Venice where you'll need to familiarize yourself with the water taxis to get around.

The best part of Italy for me was the much more relaxed pace of life, especially in restaurants where you can sit for hours after a meal chatting without being rushed out. In fact you have to ask at least twice before they'll bring you your check, even during crowded times. The food. What can you say, ordinary street food compares favorably with gourmet restaurants in the U.S. After a while, you'll look around and realize - these people know how to live!

Of course, all is not paradise, while there is very little violent street crime (we walked around areas of Rome well past midnight), there are plenty of Gypsies and other hustlers who specialize in distracting you while they pick your pocket.