yes i pass that way on way to tunisia where i have a house,i go via sicily,right i find the best way is via holland,germany,austria into italy then autostrada south i have stopped around rome a couple of times in tivoli, i have done the french route but i find its not as good,theres a fantastic road from bologna to pistoa where i have stopped a couple of times,also going this route if you have time you can take in the dolomites