Theft

Theft In Italy can be a major problem, thousands of things are stolen each year there. It is important to be alert, because it may just happen right under your nose. There have been several reports of people having their items stolen, with the most common item being jewellery. One must be very careful, for example a woman's handbag can be stolen instantly never to be found again. One should avoid packing their valuables in checked luggage because a bag and its contents can be easily stolen. Another piece of advice to avoid bringing items that are not absolutely essential. Try to pack items in see through bags and carry ons if possible so you can keep a better eye on them.
Take a look at this site for some more information: http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/10-tips-to-protect-valuables-from-travel-theft/

Structures

Italy is known for having some famous architectural structures. Some popular ones in Rome include the Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum. Some famous structures in Florence include Il Duomo and the the Ponte Vecchio. One of the iconic structures in Rome is the Pantheon. Originally constructed in 120 C.E., its primary purpose was a temple for worship to the original Roman deities that occupied the majority of religion at that time. Another Famous building in Rome is Saint Peter's Basilica, possibly Christianity's largest church, has a area of over 23,000 square meters, and has a seating capacity of over 60,000 people.

Food

In Italy there are all kinds of different food, and different styles of foods from each region, prepare to try some new things. Some popular dishes in Rome include the egg and pancetta carbonara, the spaghetti amatriciana, and the spicy pasta arabiata. The traditional meal structure for italian food is a bit different. they have the aperitivo, antipasto, primo, secondo, contorno, formaggio e frutta, dolce, cafe, and digestivo . Additionally, the system of establishments is a bit differnt. There are agriturismos, which are farms that accomodate meals. They also have the traditional Bar/cafe. Some things that are a bit different however are birreria (beer store), Bruschetteria (bruschetteria), Frasca (Winery), Gelateria (ice cream parlor), as well as many others. To see more, visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_cuisine#Meal_structure

Weather

For the upcoming trip in Italy it is going to be quite hot out. May is the month of Roses. It gets to be in the 60's and the 70's there, and so it is nice and warm out but not too hot out to be outside and see what is there. The weather is very nice and usually not intemperate. People will typically wear lighter clothing, and polo shirts are very common as well.