When you travel, you have to eat out for almost every meal (unless, of course, you opt for self-catering accommodations like city apartments or countryside villas). All of this restaurant dining can be hard to navigate if you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, especially if you are particularly strict. 

Italy is a food-centered culture and most restaurants worth their salt are happy to accommodate special requests when they can, but the concept of what “vegetarian” or “vegan” means is often a bit hazy and can lead to misunderstandings. It’s better to have a bit of knowledge about what dishes you can and can’t eat than to rely on restaurant chefs or servers to know that intuitively.