Having the good fortune to have been a guest in a number of Italian homes recently (we live there) I have to say that they don't just save those lumpen pillows and mattresses for the tourists. No, they are a normal part of the La Dolce Vita...personally I think its because the word for soft "morbido" is suspiciously similar to the word for death...

LJ -- now that's interesting! Thanks for replying.
((c))