Ben--if I recall correctly, one of the stolen shoes reappeared and another went missing. Good that I only ever take one pair, bad if one of those disappeared!

My dear, make sure you have shoe trees inside them, and each shoe is in its own shoe bag so as to prevent scuffing. Mine always seem to be fitted in among my clothes, and I pack a pair for every occasion.

ronda definitely has the best solution, one that I confess I have used upon occasion.

I'm really not obsessed with shoes...maybe a bit preoccupied. Anyway, with so many references to the great shoe shopping in Italy, do you mean designer shoes that are $200 instead of $400, or $80-100 shoes that are $40-50? Just wondering what to expect as someone not prepared to shop in the designer price range!