I have already searched this forum about buying a pre-paid SIM card in Italy. I have read elsewhere that 'codice fiscale' is needed to buy a card, but this is not mentioned in this forum.

For those who bought pre-paid SIM cards in Italy, can you enlighten me exactly what is needed, besides money, to buy a SIM card in Italy? Is 'codice fiscale' needed? If so how did you get it?

I haven't bought a prepaid SIM in Italy, but a quick websearch turned this up: "Some people report problems buying a prepaid SIM without an Italian Codice Fiscale (tax number), but it is really no problem." - Howard's Forums, a mobile phone site.

Commonsense suggests that the only foreigners who could obtain an Italian tax file number would be those employed and paying tax (which I accept may not necessarily be the same thing in Italy). As no tourist is likely to satisfy such a condition, I would think that money should do the trick.

since it is a space on application not to be left blank, a passport number should do.
you should have no trouble buying a prepaid card.

Or you could just buy it beforehand here in the US, which is what I did. Since I arrived with a SIM card, I just bought a cheap phone in Italy and was set to go. The advantage of buying it ahead of time is that you have your phone number before you leave, which you can give to family and friends.

I got mine at Cellular Abroad.
http://www.cellularabroad.com/

If you already have an unlocked phone, you are set, but if you need one, I found it was cheaper to make that purchase in Italy.

You can calculate a Codice Fiscale online:
http://www.comuni.it/servizi/codfisc/

Don't worry about it. If they require codice fiscale, they can generate it on their PC on a program like http://www.codicefiscale.com/
You can get your own, unofficial CF by entering your details: Last name, given name, date of birth, sex, commune of birth. In case of those born outside of Italy, you have to give Italian name of your country, e.g. Gran Bretagna, Stati Uniti (for USA). Then click 'Calcola'.

We have bought two SIM cards in Italy in the past two years, one in Florence and one in Ortigia, Sicily. In both cases, they wanted to see our passports - that was all.

I strongly recommend buying a calling card as well in Italy; the minutes are much cheaper than using the time on your SIM card. For example, for 5 euros, you get about 350 minutes - quite astounding. You can buy them at Tobacco shops and at newstands. Make sure to ask for one for international calls, which you can use for local (within Italy) calls, too. Some brands are Eurocity, SISAL, and Europa.

Suzy Kane, http://www.idyllicitaly.com