do you have to present evidence of financial means when visiting Italy

You only need to show a passport, per the requirements you stated. As far as evidence of travel - I've never experienced such a thing. Passport Control at entry asks you the purpose of your visit and may ask for how long you are staying. As far as financial, this is new to me. I've never been asked. There is no visa requirements for US citizens. If you are from another country, you need to check visa requirements.

I am going to say, "no." However, I do think that if the immigration officer feels he/she has a reason to pull you aside for further screening, a question about how you plan to support yourself or pay your way may be asked. I think such a situation would be the exception rather than the rule for someone just entering as a tourist

Also, if you are here in the US on a work visa or a green card you may want to specifically check to see if you need to have an EU visa. Better than being turned back at passport control.

What is in the official requirements and what is in practice are often two separate things.
Pack your passport.

Officials staffing immigration/passport control always have the ability to ask for more info at their discretion. It's no different here in the USA.

If you appear to be a tourist, have the basics in order, can answer very basic questions about your plans without visibly freaking out, it's extremely highly very very unlikely they will ask for anything else. But they could. If you appear to coming there to live and work, then there's a greater chance of being pressed for more supporting documentation, whether that's an onward ticket, a bank statement, a big wad of cash, etc.

For the overwhelming majority of tourists, never will be an issue.

You’ll probably just scan your passport at a kiosk and not even interact with a person at FCO

You’ll need your passport and I would always have my CDC vax card just in case requirements change

You need your passport.

The only other thing I have ever been asked to show, outside of Covid related materials in the past, is my airline ticket out of Schengen.

If you plan to stay for an extended time, you might be asked for proof of how you will be supporting yourself. But that's only if you'll be planning on staying for months.

You may be asked why you are entering Schengen and tell them you are a tourist on holiday.

And remember, also, the schengenvisainfo is a private company that helps people who need to get visas. It's not an official website.

Is this your first time traveling to a Schengen country? I have never been asked for anything outside of my passport but according to the list of what is “acceptable”, just show them cash if you are asked which I doubt you will be. Just make sure you grip it strongly! 💪

Technically, yeah, at the border they can demand proof of financial support while there, proof of health coverage, proof of onward travel within 90 days, and proof that you will adhere to the terms of the visa waiver (not working for pay for example).

For financial resources, most countries actually have an amount stated, I see Spain just alerted Brits they may need to show resources of 85 GBP/Day available.

Those are the standard requirements for visiting nearly any country, including the US.

As others said, nearly always you are just asked what the purpose of your visit is and how long you are staying. Since the airlines alert them to passengers with one-way tickets, if that is your situation, the questions will be a bit more pointed. In fact that one way ticket would be the thing that leads to questions about finances, more about your purpose, and health insurance.

In 20-30 trips, have to admit, I have never been asked anything additional. As for proof? I have a couple credit cards and ATM cards that would probably suffice, I have a health insurance card, I always have a return ticket, so no worries.

This is the OFFICIAL info source for U.S. citizens planning to travel abroad:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html

This is the section for Italy:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Italy.html

Do not worry about the terrorism caution: I don't even remember when that caution wasn't there. Same with many, many other countries, including our own. And no, with a return ticket, hotel reservations and whatnot, it'll be clear that you are indeed a temporary visitor, and that you have every intention of going home. I'd be surprised if anyone on the RS forums have ever been asked for financial information, although I know it can happen if there's suspicion of intent to overstay a visa, work illegally, or some other thing.

All you need is a valid passport, and it's HIGHLY recommended that you have health insurance that will cover you abroad, and which includes medical evacuation back to the states if necessary. Medical care in Italy is not free for visitors. I'd personally also bring your COVID vaccination cards even if not required.

We have never been asked anything beyond our purpose of travel, sometimes where we are staying. However, is my airline ticket out of Schengen. That one bothers me as we often do not have a return ticket. Not sure what we would do other than to say, "The flight is not scheduled yet."

No one with a US passport is going to be asked about financial means. If you're from an African country, that's another story.

No one with a US passport is going to be asked about financial means.
If you're from an African country, that's another story.

!!!!
Are Americans on some kind of extra-special-people list??

hey, if you're entitled you are entitled

A couple of comments based on personal experience:

We always fly to Europe on one-way tickets, and have never been asked for proof of onward travel out of the Schengen zone, only how long we are staying. We WERE asked to show proof of onward travel (return tickets) when we flew to New Zealand on one-way tix—-but that is not relevant to Europe.

My son had to provide proof of financial means when he applied for a student visa to spend a year in Italy. I had to get an affidavit from my bank to support his application, affirming that I had “sufficient means” to support him. Again, not relevant to tourist travel.

(But as an aside, I will add that my bank was at first reluctant to comply with my request, as at the time there were reports of Mafia kidnappings for ransom. Apparently the banks here were on alert. I had to assure them that my son was on a legitimate international study program with a well-known US university, and I wasn’t concerned about the financial disclosure making its way into Mafia hands.)

there were reports of Mafia kidnappings for ransom.

When did this happen?

Are Americans on some kind of extra-special-people list??

In the Real world? Yes they are, those small print terms are there to prevent Africans and Asians from entering Italy, not Americans. It's almost impossible to deport Africans and Asians whereas Americans have a panic attack at the idea of not knowing where their passport is for more than 10 minutes.

There is no visa requirements for US citizens. If you are from another
country, you need to check visa requirements.

Apparently starting next year there will be a "registration" requirement though this is not the same as a "visa."

Haven't read the details.

It's the ETIAS and don't worry about it. Once they announce the procedure it will be written about on this website more times than you will want.

Just relax, go and have a good time. Italy is a lot better than Durham. And I should know, I once lived in Durham.

swarthy foreign guy here with an accent and a fairly unpronounceable last name but with an american passport!
no issues entering or exiting any country so far. on my recent trip to germany, italy, malta, and the netherlands i even had a couple of one-way tickets. the only times i was asked to show my 'papers' were at train stations in sicily last year. it's funny but when i saw the police making checks i deliberately got close, and hovered until they asked for my passport. i wanted to have the experience. the cops took a picture of the passport and waved me on. i noticed they were stopping some people, of all ages, colors, and gender and not paying attention to others. ironically, there was that one time on my return to the usa that an officer (can't recall the agency) asked me all sorts of questions; what kind of work i did, the office address, where i lived etc. at the baggage carousel, not immigration. point is, while i am being jokey it is true, as others have pointed out, that immigration and customs have all the authority to stop you and ask questions. also, important and has been debated elsewhere in the forum, in italy at least the various police forces can ask to see your passport when you are up and about. and yes, having an american passport is a privilege that we enjoy though not as much as citizens of about 15 other countries!

And I should know, I once lived in Durham.

but have you ever lived in Italy?

My son had to provide proof of financial means when he applied for a student visa to spend a year in Italy.

Our grandson had to do the same thing when he spent a year in France as a university student.

Sometimes we are asked very basic questions, such as length of stay and purpose of trip when we present our passport. I'm sure the passport control personnel are trained to recognize triggers that would warrant further questioning.

That is a question that is asked at the discretion of the officer when you enter the Schengen area. Even if your destination is Italy, that is not necessarily going to be asked by an Italian officer if you enter the Schengen Area from another gateway airport, for example Madrid or Paris.

In real life the probability that a tourist holding a US or Canadian passport to be asked that question is 'zero point zero followed by many other zeroes'.

Are Americans on some kind of extra-special-people list??

Yes. But not only Americans. Canadians as well, along with other rich country people outside of Schengen.
In Europe the police profile people based on 'race', 'religion, and 'national origin' (i.e. passport). I know for experience. If you have anything against that practice you are can complain in writing to the ambassadors of those EU countries, who will simply flatly deny that ever happens.

You don't need a visa if you are staying a max of 90 days as a tourist, as the link says:

"Citizens of the United States with a valid US passport can travel to 26 European member countries of the Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days without having to apply or obtain a Schengen visa for short-term tourism or a business trip."

If you don't need a visa for your planned stay then none of the rules regarding entering on a visa apply (showing means of support).