I've heard the same thing about Venice, though I've also heard that they've started cleaning things up a bit. I'll wait.
I'm more into Rome, for the history parts, but then out to the coast for Naples or Palermo. The Company is thinking about an office in Milan. That wouldn't suck, really. :-)
Rome would be the most interesting place, I imagine.
And Americans aren't as vilified in Italy as they are elsewhere.