Oh I forgot to comment on how to get these said bike boxes to airport. Find someone with a 1/4 ton open bed truck to haul your gear or rent a truck to transport the gear to store at airport for say the day before you depart.
PS: You should check to see if there is a "left luggage" policy at Rome airport to store the boxes, that way you assemble & dis-assemble the bike at the airport (lots of fun!!). If unable to do this see if there is a local bike shop or fellow cyclist in area that would pick you up at airport and store the boxes say for a few $$, and maybe that way you could assemble the bikes in their bike shop (possibly buy some stuff?).
Hope this helps....