We are booking rooms for a trip to Italy. Some of the hotels haven't responded to the request form sent on line but they are available to book on Expedia with good rates. Does anyone have experience booking Italian hotels though Expedia rather than through the hotel itself? Pros and cons? Thanks for your advice.

I have used Expedia for hotels all over the world many times with no problems.
Expedia does require full payment up front but you do know the exact amount that you will be paying since you are paying with U.S. dollars. On the other hand, if the euro continues to decline, your room could have been cheaper if you were only giving a credit card guarantee on the hotel website and paying at the time of your stay. Your credit card company will charge a foreign transaction fee (often 3%) of the foreign charge.
When you look at the rates on Expedia to see the total you must choose the select/purchase option. (You don't need to purchase.) They put the absolute minimum price on the front page. When you select that room you will then see the price with all taxes, etc. You don't say how many in your room. The rooms are priced for two people. If you have extra people there will be an additional charge for the beds.
If you need specific type of bedding be sure that it is offered on Expedia (i.e. twin beds instead of double). Put that in the comment box. I also then send an email to the hotel after receiving the confirmation from Expedia telling them the bedding and smoking/non-smoking choices. Expedia will send you an Expedia confirmation and it will also list the hotel confirmation number on that page.
Before you pay click on the rules/cancellation policy that they will show for the specific rate.
I have had nothing but good luck (fingers crossed) with Expedia. Sometimes I do like to use them because it spreads the cost of the trip. For our trip next Janurary I have used them for two hotels and been charged in full. That will be paid for now so I don't get a huge credit card statement after the trip!
The Italian hotels are very familiar with Expedia so you should not worry about that.

Thank you. Does anyone know what the hotels give up when we book through Expedia?

They usually put their "standard rooms" on the travel websites and Expedia collects a commission. What you are giving up is a chance for a better deal on the hotel website later on. The way I get around this is that if I find a great deal on Expedia that can be cancelled with no penalties then I take it. Then I monitor the hotel's own website and if they have a better offer later then I cancel Expedia.
My understanding is that sites like Expedia are so well used (even if people don't book on them) that hotels want their property and pictures on the sites. Expedia is very useful because of their set-up for things like pictures.
I must say that it is rare that I find a better deal on Expedia than I do on the hotel's own website. You didn't say when you were traveling. Sometimes the offers on their own websites don't come up if you are too far out (i.e. deals for next spring).

We've just returned from Copenhagen - booked through Expedia. I always confirm everything - called that hotel maybe 2 weeks before arriving, our reservation was in their system. The room was better then expected from the website description.