Winter in Italy?

Good for your niece! And you! Cities like Florence and Rome will have lots to do regardless of weather. Facilities in summer resort areas - Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast - will mostly be closed. Winter in Italy is generally mild, unless you go into the Alps or high in the Appenines, but it can rain anywhere.

What is your niece interested in?

I've been to Italy twice in February. I imagine weather is much the same then - I had some lovely warm sunny days, especially around Rome. Florence can be unpleasant - but there are many indoor sights, such as museums and churches.

What kind of suggestions or recommendations are you asking for?

Yes, i spent the month of December 2013 in Italia! It's COLD! I did buy a Mountain Coat when i was at the Adriatico, but most days layers of a Heavy T-shirt, sweatshirt, and long heavy sweater were fine. I wore a stocking cap too.
I recommend warm pants, and leg warmers under the pants helped as needed. Warm socks needed too.

The thing is the outdoor side of Italian life continues on into cold weather. The famous outdoor markets still set up along the streets in big and small towns and especially in December the merchants display Christmas items, and there I was, walking along the streets and shopping in the cold!

i still had to walk to bus stops and wait for buses in the cold. Even if you spend some time indoors, you still have to walk, wait for buses, walk some more, wait some more. And there's No resisting all the magnificent outdoor sites in Italia. Dress warmly and you can Go see them!
You will have to walk around the sites.

Rome is always a good idea, lots of outdoor Christmas events in December. But even native Italians will say There is No place like Napoli for Christmas. Its famous street-lined outdoor markets in Centro Storico intensify in December with Christmas coming. They go day and night and they are a most unique, magical experience. Next time Im in Italia in December, Im heading straight back to Napoli!

Great information! Thank you all.

I offered my niece an opportunity to visit any place in the world she wanted to visit - as her graduation present. She was struggling with geography, and it was my hope was that as she studied other places (geography and history) it would help her take an interest in many locations. She had three years to decide.

It took her 3 days - she came back and said "Italy." When asked 'why Italy,' she emphatically stated: "Every artist wants to go to Rome!" Okay then. So, to the question, what is she interested in, well, there's the art. Her other request: "I want see how they live, and experience the people and the life." As for me? Probably a little shopping.. leather, jewelry. Any other thoughts, anyone?

If she wants to see art, Florence is a must in addition to Rome. Depending on what she likes, Venice has some great art too. Rome is pretty mild, but even as far north as Tuscany can be pretty cold. Not to deter your trip - I think it's a great time to travel, the cities are less crowded. Just take a look at the average temperatures etc for your destinations and pack wisely!

Make sure that you go to the Galleria Borghese in Rome, and in Florence to the Convent/Museum of San Marco (just up the street from the Accademia). You can do your shopping in either/both cities. Everybody's happy!

Art and Florence go together like a horse and carriage. For sculpture, the Bargello and the museum of the Duomo are great. The Pitti Palace has a wonderful collection of paintings and you get to visit a palace too. Don't skip the "Modern Art" section - modern in Italy begins around 1815. The Medici Chapels are another wow, and right outside it the market, great shopping at reasonable prices, especially for leather goods. Do not shop for gold on the Ponte Vecchio - highest prices around. A licensed guide told me all the all the shops there are owned by the same people! I recommend a minimum of 3 full days there.

You don't say how long the trip is going to be. With 10-14 full days on the ground, you could add a couple of nights in Siena and/or Orvieto, or you could haul yourselves down to Sorrento for 4-5 nights, small town, but commuting distance to Pompeii, Herculaneum, Ravello and/or Positano. If you do go south, do not skip the Archaeological Museum of Naples - the most wonderful mosaics from Pompeii, among many other treasures from early Roman times.

Oh please do NOT miss the Gold Shops at Ponte Vecchio and surrounding area! Historically and traditionally, even native Italians regard Firenze as THE place to shop for Gold. You should at least go and look for the experience of a lifetime.
That location may offer the highest concentration of 18 Karat Italian Gold jewelry. They are all right there with a convenience you will welcome. And they offer a big selection and wide variety of gold jewelry that will engage you.
I don't know about ownership but do your research Now on the Internet. They are all online, you can see their inventory. You can even shop online. They will help you find the right piece and ship it UPS Express. You can have it in a few days! These shop owners are specialists and terrific to work with.
Use the Internet to research Gold Shops in other cities too! You can compare shops, discover what each shop offers, and get ideas on where you would like to go and which shops you want to visit. Best way to Know before you Go!
The Internet will also tell you the current market value of gold; so you can have an idea of how much gold jewelry will cost you. Also, shops online will tell you their prices making it easy to compare costs.
The best way to get the most out of your trip is to prepare now. And shopping for Gold is so much FUN!

I think you should also visit Siena and the beautiful Tuscan countryside: Crete Senesi and Val d'Orcia are really amazing and unforgettable.