Thanks to all those who answered with ideas for what to do with my son in Italy. I solved it by buying a ticket for a friend of his to accompany us. Everyone is happy. Now I want to know if anyone knows the current status of mad cow disease in Italy? Is there any reason to avoid eating meat or certain types of meat there? I don't tend to panic about this stuff, but I don't know much about this and can't find any recent posts about it.

To the best of my knowledge there has been exactly one confirmed case of mad cow disease turnign up in Itlay thus far and that for an older man who had spent much of his life in Britain. Have a ball and eat hearty. (Although, I will say that we have friends who live in Italy and are strict vegetarians and say it is the best place place in the world to eat well as a vegetarian, but not a vegan i.e. no dairy etc, because of the Italian penchant for cheese.)

Chances of being exposed to mad cow disease are virtually nil. <BR>

the only mad cow you will meet is the one you kick in the ass. the florentine beefstake has been abolished for nwo but it is the classic cut including the spinal column- just stay away from cuts of beef near the spine or products containing mixtures of beef including part of dubious origin. veal is still very safe. if yiu have not tryed it -try horsemeat steak its fine grilled. there are plenty of other meat selections including rabbitt,lamb, chicken, turkey, veal , wild boar(great) and all kinds of seafood. go and mange abodanza dont worry and enjoy

the only thing mad in italy is a tourist on too much espresso.