Is the water safe to drink in Italy or should we depend on bottle water?

Probably safer than at home when it comes out of the plant or at least as safe as Europeans typically use a technique that U.S. water systems have only recently been changing to. Something like ozonization or something - at least this is what a tour of my local water plant - the experts there said about Europe in general.

That said some folks avoid water in older hotels because the pipes may have lead in them. This has never worried me and i've drunk table water in Europe for nearly 40 years of travel there and never noticed any ill effects.

Sadly with my upcoming kidney transplant i may not be going in the near future.

Good luck with the transplant--I hope it all goes well for you and you can again head off to Europe.

Underhill - thanks for the good wishes but i was jesting that after drinking the water all those years i had kidney problems. Sorry about my mis-attempt at humor and don't want to have anyone misunderstand my poor humour. But thanks anyway!

We found that all the restaurants served bottled water - with bubbles or without is the question : ) Of course that means they do not serve 'free' water like in the US (not any we found anyways). In Rome, however, there are lovely water spouts all through the city. We carried a water bottle around with us all around Rome and there was always a fountain to refill it close by, especially at any piazza or campo. Our host in Tuscany explained that in Tuscany they are still using the 2000 year old Roman water system, so it is not drinkable, but Rome has a new system throughout the city with good drinking water. As I said, we drank plenty and never had a problem (it was June and very hot). As far as other places, unless you are planning to drink from a hose or the bathroom fawcet, it shouldn't be a problem, they will offer you bottled water at any restaurant.

www.soccerose.com/public/fountain.jpg
(not sure if you will be able to see this, but it's a cute picture of a public fountain)

Have a great trip!