I took my family to Rome for a weekend break in Oct 2009, and had some horrible experience in Rome.
First, we got searched by a person who claimed himself as a policy man (without uniform) when we were having a relaxed walking around the hotel. Apparently he was looking for some drugs as he kept sniffing in my wallet, camera, my wife’s handbag etc.
I have never been searched before in my life apart from at the airport security checkpoint. That is fine as everyone is searched. But this time, he probably did so because of the colour of our skin. There are many peoples walking in the area, and he only picked us. What a terrible start for a family coming here for a happy weekend!
I never expected to be treated like this in a civilised country.