I vaguely recall that European traders (restaurents, hotels etc) nowadays require that ALL credit cards are micro chipped. I will be travelling in Italy and Switzerland in April/May and need to check this point out as one of my cards does not have such a chip.
Can anyone comment please?

I contacted both of my cards (chase visa and american express) just to make sure in time for my upcoming May trip. both assured me that my card was acceptable but I may be asked for id. Hope they are correct.

Your recollection is not only vague, it is incorrect. Cards with mag stripe rather than chip are accepted by merchants. They may not work with some unattended machines (e.g., toll booths, gas station pumps, ticket vending machines) but there is no problem at places of business. The merchant may need to key in numbers rather than their being read electronically but they do work.

Are American Express cards accepted in most restaurants in Italy? I remember that many places only took Visa/Mastercard.

AMEX is not as accepted as visa but I have used AMEX alot there, hotels no problem but maybe less so in restaurants.

AmEx i s accepted at more moderate/upscale places, but some more modest places may not take it- but only Visa or MC. In any case you should always take at lest 2 different CCs - just as a back-up.

Many thanks to all replies!