I don’t usually carry a cross body purse, but thought it would be useful in Rome. I took one I had had for several years but rarely used. It was a rousing success, so I thought I’d share. This bag is just $14.99 on Amazon. It held my water bottle, maps, guide book section (it could have fit the whole guide book). My passport and extra money / credit cards were in my RS neck wallet, as usual but I felt safe from pick pockets with this bag even on very crowded trams. This may not be a bag built to last for years, but it will serve me for several trips to come. The only trick is to order the correct one as they are made to go over either the left or right shoulder (I initially ended up with one of each :)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RFRQQR1?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1