The part about Italian algebraic geometry reminded me that I took a course in algebraic geometry from an Italian professor. He was a great guy and liked anyone who had an interest in geometry. When the students had a discussion with him about problems or research; if you were wrong about something he would not pounce on you and rip you to shreds as most other professors would. He would say something like "You are totally wrong but essentially correct !!"
Your Italian professor had a streak of kindness in him. But he was probably thinking (as most math profs do), "If you can't do the problems, you don't understand the material."