After receiving such great advice from people on this helpline, I thought some quick tips could serve as "payback" and might be helpful as you're planning your trip:
PACKING, CLOTHING:
- pack light - everyone says it, and its absolutely true
- take a small backpack for day trips
- ignore the eternal debate about shorts or no shorts for men ... everyone wears shorts everywhere, and if you're afraid of being "mistaken" as a tourist, the fact is ... you are a tourist, so why not be comfortable
- don't forget the travel alarm clock
- we purchased a cell phone for Europe, and although we thought we'd never use it, we did and it was great to have
SAFETY:
- we had no problems whatsoever with pickpockets or scams
- money belt is more comfortable in the heat than a neck pouch
- use the small safes provided in your hotel room in order to keep the passports safe
We had a wonderful trip, and thought our experiences might be helpful as you plan your own vacation in Italy. Hope this helps!