I don't believe they take a xerox copy of the passport as proof in Italy--seems to me my sister asked about that.

I've never had to even show my passport in either the UK or France.

By the way, I needed to show my passport to get travelers checks exchanged at a bank in Italy. That WAS about ten years ago and I don't carry travelers checks any more, but a word to the wise to those who do. We had to make a long trek back to the hotel to get it from the safe because several of the banks near the hotel don't handle money transactions like that--another aspect of life in Italy I was unfamiliar with.

I have to admit I do get anxious whenever handing over my passport. It's probably because I've been to many hotels where they lackadaisically place the passports in the mail slots behind the reception desk. Which often is unattended. Hanging the room keys there too makes me nervous, guess you can take the girl out of the city but...

I've never had a problem giving a passport to the front desk person in all the years I've traveled.
((H))

We make a photocopy of our passports for every hotel and then one extra. This last March, when the desk clerks asked to see our passport, we handed the photocopy over and all were pleased. Since we had our passports stashed away safely with some emergency money, ATM cards we didn't have to dig for them in public.
Try not to worry so much about everything that you hear or read. Just prepare yourself to have a marvelous time!