First off, I'm jealous of your locale! I'd love to ride in Italy on any bicycle.

That said, can you order things online and have them delivered to you over there? http://www.bikesdirect.com is the perennial suggestion, withs scads of 'cross bikes well within your budget. Once you find one you like (shoot for a double chainring, 9 or 10 speeds, a color you like, frame material doesn't much matter), head over to http://www.competitivecyclist.com/St...ulatorBike.jsp to determine a good fit/size for you and then compare the measurements to the geometry charts on bikesdirect, select the closest size, click "buy," and enjoy those cobbles and countryside for the rest of us!