Recommendation needed - shoes

You might have a look here https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/best-travel-shoes.

Do you have a shoe you are using for long walks now?

TBH I’d not recommend new shoes at this point in time. You don’t want to try them out for the first time in Rome in case they are uncomfortable or rub blisters. There’s no quicker way to have a miserable start to a vacation in my view.

There IS a lot of walking and Rome has an amazing amount of stairs!

What Pam said -- comfy, broken-in sneakers/ walking shoes/ sandals, even if they don't look "European", are the way to go. Even if you get recommendations for shoe brands, what fits somebody else's feet may be torture for yours.
Have a great trip!

Some sneakers & sandals do not have thick enough soles to cushion walking on cobblestones.

Some very comfortable Sketchers are very fast to break in. My favorite pair for EU were goodto go by the time I left the store.

Hi,

I do not have any foot or sizing issues. With that, what I may like and wear will be very different on you.

I believe someone mentioned sketchers. "Vans" seems to be popular too. https://www.vans.com/womens.html

This is only a suggestion. I cannot attest to the wearability of the "Vans."

For Rome, I would suggest a comfy, closed in 'shoe' or sandal. Thin-soled shoes, sneakers or sandals will eventually hurt you.

Walking over cobblestone, chipped or broken walkways, protruding sidewalks, etc. tripping on them could do damage.

Keep in mind, that even if your ankles or feet never give you issue at your home base, summer time in Rome can be brutal - heat, humidity, dirt, unexpected trash on the walkways, someone stepping on your foot at sites, as well as my above scenarios mentioned.

Also, even "if" you never get a blister of any kind in your everyday life, I suggest bringing "Blister Aids" for heels. They can be found at WalMart or your favorite pharmacy aisle. They are a gel cushion, stick very well. And, when it is time to remove it or them, you "roll them off" - never pull like a regular band aid.

Even though I wore my comfortable, closed in shoes all over Rome, just as a preventative measure, or maybe even a test, I put those gelled cushions on - walked all over Rome and then some. Never had an issue. And, they did not stick to my trouser socks. I traveled both times to Rome in December.

If you're looking for shoes for your husband, I find Mephisto to be very good and very comfortable. Also they come in styles that can be used for both casual and dressier wear. While it's best to break in a new pair of shoes before you travel, note that Mephisto shoes sell for about half the US price in Europe.

I agree that its a little on the late side to be purchasing new shoes - they need to be WELL broken. Any decent sneaker or walking shoe that you currently have should be fine.

I wear Clark desert boots or Skechers ( the memory foam tends to break down pretty quick on me) and my wife wears Vionics and ECCO sneakers for our Europe trips.

Yep, have a look at the forum dedicated just for shoes that Laurel linked.
I'll agree that this is a little late in the game to be looking at a new shoe that needs to be well broken in BEFORE the trip. If you already have a sturdy pair that's comfortable for a lot of walking, I'd bring them or buy a new pair of the same brand and walk in them like crazy over the next two weeks. Carry moleskin for the first sign of a blister.

One feature in particular they should have is a good grip on multiple surfaces: wet, smooth stone in particular (lots of marble steps in Rome and other old cities) can be deadly slippery.

I would recommend Keen sandals with a closed covered toe. The soles are great on cobblestones, and sandals are nice and cool. With the toe covered you do not stub your toe. Tennis shoes do not have a thick enough sole for uneven surfaces. I have worn my Keen sandals on trips to Italy and Greece and they have worked out well. Have a great trip!

"Even if you get recommendations for shoe brands, what fits somebody else's feet may be torture for yours."

Exactly! My father loved Ecco's, but they're only OK for me. I love Rockports, but not everyone will. Etc.

I also agree that with only two weeks, don't buy new shoes now, or you may be very sorry in Europe!

I recommend a black pair of lightweight Nike tennis shoes. The ones I wore in Rome had a knit like material. They were comfy right out of the box and had good cushioning. Recommended for lots of walking.

Yes, to the sneakers comments.
Good arch support.

A comment for the husband: my first trip to Italy was in 2002. I had always owned/worn white sneakers. Had been to England many times, with white shoes. NO MAN in Italy or Greece wears white shoes :-)

Back in 2002, I noticed 'it' right away. Told my wife. She doubted it. For the next few people we saw with white sneakers, I walked up to them and asked where they were from - the USA - 100%

I've only owned brown and black shoes since then :-)