..the French didnt like the idea of having to converse to us in mere English so a few basic words makes you sound like at least youre trying..so the locals will probably be able to tell you of a good tour to go on...probably with someones cousin named Guido..

French, Italian, German, and Spanish.

The residents spoke better English than my four second languages.

You'll be fine.

Interested in your responses.
I friend back in Ct recommended someone out of Hamden, when i get home in a few days I'll get the name.

would be my choice. Take some good notes and plan your own more leisurely return next time. The problem I had in Italy was that one is constantly forced to eat good food. I once spent a week in Marghera involved in a cruise ship newbuilding. The sandwiches at the shipyard canteen were fantastic.

over the years. Portillo was good, but tour guide wasn't pleasant. Collette was great! Comprehensive and not too much walking or too strenuous. And if a walk was too much for me recovering from knee replacement, we just found a cafe and had coffee or wine while waiting for the group. They even drive us to the airport and back! I recommend.

Rick steves Tours and Road Scholars. You may also like Overseas Adventure Travels (OAT)

guided tours of Italy. The advantage of a guided tour is you don't have to line up hotels and transportation yourself. If you are only going to Rome, or another city, then it's much easier to do on your own. Don't worry about language almost the entire world speaks some English.

ourselves. Flew into Venice. Got the water taxi tix and saved ourselves a lot of walking that way. Took train from there to Rome, you can do the hop on hop off there and not have to walk a lot. Got the passes to skip line at Vatican. Took a day trip through Naples to Pompeii and back to Rome, by train. Then took train to Florence. Took a day trip with a company by bus around Tuscany (San Gimigiano, Siena, Pisa, had lunch and wine at a vineyard, took another day in Florence.) Then to Milan, just for the night, and took a train through French Alps to Paris, then flight home. Takes a little of your own legwork before you leave the States, but can do things on own schedule and save money.

Got around and along just fine, and we spoke no Italian.

We've driven up and down the boot, but Italian driving is for the young and brave. Get one of these quickie language courses. You don't need to get fluent, but Italians appreciate the effort. Capri is gorgeous. One trip we decided to visit every place Etruscan, but we had a car. We were able to bring out the best in apparently every Italian there because we had our Maltese with us...they'd actually cross the street, stroke him without saying a word, then go back to the other side. Waiters brought him food from the kitchen. One brought him a bowl of water and held it for him. Another. Open shirt, hairy chest, gold chains...mr.macho...had to hold him during a funicula ride. Who knew that a longhaired Maltese with barettes in his hair was the secret weapon to conquering Italy? One museum i loved is the museo nat.di villa giulia. It has my favorite statue in the world, the sweet, touching "sarcophagus of the spouses." Worth it. Buon viaggio!

These days, a lot of people speak English. Especially in bigger cities and tourist areas. It wasn't always the case. Just learn a few basic phrases and you'll be fine. Can't wait to get back. Especially to Venice, the most beautiful city on the planet. (It's our older daughter's middle name!) Have a great time!