Very different in parts of southern Italy, and definitely not overly secular (definitely less secular than the US). Milan is a bit like New York, from an Italian perspective, and I would not be surprised if the surrounding towns were not similar. Go to Salerno or Naples during Christmas.
Many parts of Northern Italy are more Germanic, than Italian.
Where my daughter lived was not in Milan, but was actually in a suburb or another very small town, very quaint, not at all urban but still quite Euro secular.
Folks around the area were very, very nice, just not at all religious and certainly not believers.