Anyone familiar with Fuimicino airport? advice in making connecting flight back to States

I find in Rome, I just ask the airline folks where to go and follow their advice. I find the Rome airport a bit confusing until I get out to the gate area. However, I always make it. So, my advice is have your ticket info. for the Rome flight in hand and just ask a worker for that particular airline where to go. We did have to bus shuttle to our gate area. We just followed the herd. I don't know if the Florence flight arriving will be in the same gate area as the Rome flight to USA. If it is, the connection will be easy. Don't sweat it. Just go with the flow and ask a worker. Also, there is the kiosk system where flights are listed by number and destination and gives you the gate info.

She can walk between terminals. Too late if she already has a ticket, but taking the train from Firenze SMN to FCO directly would have saved time and worry (there are two direct trains per day). Even a train from Firenze to Roma Termini and then the Leonardo Express would be faster, but unless she changes her ticket, her whole trip will be cancelled if she doesn't show at Firenze airport.

Don't worry. She's on a ticket with Alitalia and they'll make sure she gets on that plane to ORD. They don't like to pay hotel accommodations for their stranded passengers. I've taken their flight out of FLR a few times, although to catch flights from FCO to New York. She can walk, no buses needed. The train option suggested by Zoe doesn't work well with an early flight. The train from Florence doesn't get to Rome early enough for the early morning flights to the US. By flying Alitalia out of FLR Alitalia will cover the risk.

True, Roberto, I didn't see that it was an early morning flight. Alitalia could not help me at all, although they tried hard, when I needed to make a connection the day after the airport caught fire.