Vegetarian food options

Italy is a vegetarian's dream. I have not been to the "big three," but I have eaten like a queen on seven trips throughout the country. You could make do with little effort at all, but I love food and I appreciate the regional variation of Italy, so I usually check out cookbooks to learn about the regional specialties of each region I visit so I know what to look out for. Italian cuisine is seasonal, so look up the specialties for the time of year you are visiting (bitter greens in winter, artichokes in spring, etc.).
As long as you are not strict about things like cheese (rennet in parmesan and such), you will have no trouble at all. It also helps to learn simple phrases like "Sono vegetariano" and such.
You are not likely to see a "vegetarian menu" per se on a typical menu. Instead, learn some food vocabulary (or download an app) so you can quickly look something up. All menus will have good salads, and I have never not seen a vegetarian pasta under "primo." You do not have to order all courses--order what you want with confidence. The "secondi" choices may be limited, so fill up with antipasti. I usually crave things like beans and am sick of bread and cheese by the time I leave, but for a typical vacation, no worries. Last, look for places with good breakfasts if that is important to you. Pastry and coffee does not cut it for me, so spread with yogurt and more is a good way to start the day without a deficit of protein.

I bookmarked this to come back and hopefully read some good tips by others who have been there. In the meantime, you can use happycow.net. For instance, click here and find vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Florence: https://www.happycow.net/searchmap?location=florence&radius=15&metric=mi&limit=81&order=default&lat=43.7696&lng=11.2558

This website is nice but it doesn't let you arrange restaurants by number of reviews or by best reviews.

In Florence, we will probably try these:
Carduccio - Il Salotto Bio
Universo Vegano
Il Vegano - Firenze
Vinarno
Gusta Pizza
S.forno
Ghibellina Forno Pasticeria Bakery In Florence Since 1890
Antico Forno Ghibellina

In Rome, we will try these:
Ai Tre Scalini - Bottiglieria dal 1895
Forno Campo de 'Fiori
Forno Feliziani
Pronto Pizza Roma

Let's not forget quintessentially vegetarian fare, like spaghetti marinara, or spaghetti agli e olio. Vegetables sautéed in olive oil and garlic are incredible, and pasta puttanesca, assuming no anchovy paste is used, can rock your world.

In my many travels throughout Italy, I have found it to be one of the most vegetarian-friendly places. No need to ask for a special menu. Plenty of options on regular menus. And even if vegan, plenty of options (vegetables, dried pasta without egg or cheese, pizza without cheese, fruit). You will eat well! You don’t need to seek a special restaurant.

Just agreeing with the others. The concept of being vegetarian, and of vegetarian menus or vegetarian restaurants, is probably foreign to many Italians (you might find these in the biggest cities). But vegetarian DISHES are everywhere. The menu in Italy is divided into sections - primi (first courses), antipasti, secondi (second courses), contorni (vegetables), dolci (desserts), etc. You do not have to order all the courses, and no one will stop you from ordering two primi and skipping a secondi. This is important because, while most secondi will be flesh-based, many primi are vegetarian, as of course are most contorni (if you're vegan, watch out for vegetables made in cheese sauces, especially in Rome). Do learn what some of the classic sauces are: pasta al ragu is made with meat, and pasta puttanesca is with fish, so you'll want to avoid these, among others.

I've traveled in Italy 3 times eating vegan. The only downside is at the end of the trip I am so sick of zucchini and eggplant I literally could not swallow another mouthful of either. I am begging for broccoli and a baked potato, lol!!

As well as pasta and pizza (I just ask for them with no cheese), soups are often very good. In Florence look for a bean soup or Ribollita (a soup with bread chunks to thicken) which are delicious and different in every restaurant.

For a starter, bruschetta is generally reliable and there is generally some kind of plain salad.

I haven't looked at one of Rick's guidebooks for Italy in a number of years but he used to recommend the Trattoria ZaZa on the Piazza del Mercato Centrale which is good but I also like Trattoria de Garibaldi which is a few doors down.

Here's an example of the menu at Garibaldi. I love their ribollita.
https://www.garibardi.com/best-ribollita-in-florence-italy/

I don't worry about just ordering a starter and a soup or a starter and a salad instead of ordering a main.

Happy Cow can give you some good suggestions, but I'd also tell you just to walk the neighborhood you are in and read menus. They all have menus posted outside so it's easy to see if there is something to your taste. BTW, I've never been offered a vegetarian or vegan menu in Italy, even after showing the server my "I am vegan" translation card, so I would not expect to do anything but pick and choose off the regular menu.

Sorbetto is generally dairy-free and delicious. If you eat dairy then you will be in love with gelato. So many interesting flavors!

Two more vegans here. We get apartments and go shopping at the outdoor markets. Even if you don't have a kitchen, I'd go to look and get some fresh fruits. With respect to your carbs (and Pam's potatoes), the breads in Italy were wonderful. Denis quickly developed a fondness for the pan a noce (walnut bread) at the Forno in Rome's Campo de' Fiori market.

In Venice: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy-reviews/vegan-in-venice If you're okay with some eggs (we "sinned"), a quick and easy choice is Dal Moro's Fresh Pasta, not far off Piazza San Marco.

In Florence we too ate at Il Vegano, mentioned above, which we did indeed find on Happy Cow.

In Rome we so enjoyed the groceries at the Campo de' Fiori market, including the Forno, which serves breakfast items as well as breads. I didn't record any other options in my journal, which means nothing to recommend there.

We rarely get to enjoy desserts, but we did get sorbetto daily. Most places marked their offerings with respect to allergens, so determining vegan selections was generally easy. If not, a simple "vegano", said as a question, did the trick. Enjoy some for us.

And for a different snack, in the cereal aisles, look for some spelt flakes, sigh, I miss those.

When I was looking for my post on Venice, I noticed there are other similar queries, which would net you more ideas.

Thank you all for your great suggestions, this is such a help!
I love pasta, but am pretty strict with anchovy/fish sauce. Do you think they would be able make a puttanesca without anchovy paste if I requested this? Are restaurants good about substitutions?

Also- HOW DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT HAPPY COW?!?!
Amazing to have that as a resource!

"Are restaurants good about substitutions?"

No. You are expected to eat the dish as prepared, or to order a different dish. So, if something contains ingredients you do not want to eat, be sure to order something else. Unlike in the US, there is not the custom of "dressing on the side" or "leave the bacon off the salad" or "please make the fettuccini Alfredo with spaghetti instead of fettuccini."

Now, someone will soon come on here and say they had no problems with these requests. But I certainly have seen problems. It's just a cultural difference. People from other countries are often fascinated or baffled by the way we are offered choices in the US (which dressing? Do you want that with fries, hash browns, mashed potatoes? Etc, etc). I've actually read accounts of people who found ordering in the US stressful specifically because of all the choices that are "demanded" of them in restaurants (their phrasing).

Yes, the Happy Cow website has been around for a while. I probably learned about it from this Forum (I'm not vegetarian).

Hahaha...well here I am Harold!

Altho, the truth is the only thing I've asked servers to leave off is cheese on Pizza or pasta. I usually just say "senza formaggio" in a question. Occasionally a server will come back and ask again - did I really mean no cheese. Yes, and I'll usually point to my stomach and make a frowny face. Now, I don't really have lactose intolerance but I figure that is the best way to communicate it and it seems to work.

I do doubt if they could make a puttanesca sauce for 1 without anchovies. I'd bet this is a big pot of sauce for multiple diners BUT I've never had it because, well, you know...anchovies, lol!!

I would not ask for any change other than no cheese and if it looked like a dish relied heavily on cheese for flavor I'd move to something else. Often there are a couple of pastas without meat or seafood.

Ristorante vegetariano
In Florence.

However Italian cuisine has plenty of vegetarian dishes, so most restaurants will work