It is hard not to notice that, on the streets of Florence, young foreign women far outnumber any other category of people. Women feel remarkably welcome in Italy -- sometimes a bit too welcome, actually. It seems every young Italian male is out to prove himself the most irresistible lover on the planet; remember, this is the land of Romeo and Casanova, so they have a lot to live up to. And with most every Italian woman playing the especially hard-to-get Juliette, well, you see what's coming next for attractive foreign women.
The more exotic you look -- statuesque blondes, ebony-skinned beauties, or simply an American accent -- the more irresistible you become to these suitors. And, as everyone around the world knows from watching Hollywood movies, American women are uninhibited and passionate sex kittens. That this isn't always true doesn't make much of a dent in Italian boys' fantasies.
Flirting back at these would-be Romeos, even mildly, only convinces them that you're ready to jump into bed. Heck, mere eye contact encourages them to redouble their efforts. Unless you want all this attention, take your cue from Italian women, who may wear tight skirts and fishnets but, you'll notice, usually ignore the men around them entirely unless it's someone they're already walking with.
Note that much of the attention is kept to verbal flirtation and that occasional inappropriate touching deserves a slap in the face. These men want to conquer you with their charm, not their muscles. Rape is much rarer in Italy than in the United States -- but it does happen, mostly by non-Italian men, if you believe the newspapers. Though most foreign women report feeling far safer wandering the deserted streets of an Italian city to their hotels at 2am than they do in their own neighborhoods back home, use some common sense. You'll probably get tons of ride offers, mostly from would-be chivalrous knights atop their Vespa or Fiat steeds, but remind yourself that criminals do exist in this romantic part of the world, just as anywhere else.
Check out the award-winning website Journeywoman (www.journeywoman.com), a "real life" women's travel-information network where you can sign up for a free e-mail newsletter and get advice on everything from etiquette and dress to safety. The travel guide Safety and Security for Women Who Travel by Sheila Swan and Peter Laufer (Travelers' Tales Guides), offering common-sense tips on safe travel, was updated in 2004.
