I am planning a trip to Italy with roughly the following itinerary:

Fly Lufhtansa into Milan
3 days/4 nights in Lake Como
2 days/3 nights in Cinque Terre
4 days/5 nightes in Rome
3 Days/4 nights in Venice

And I am looking for the best insider's tips. No need to regurgitate
the typical guidebook fodder, unless there is something that might be
easily missed. I am mostly looking for inspiration that doesn't make
it into the guidebooks (or doesn't make it into them prominently.

My specific interests would tend towards food, food markets, plazas,
everyday life, achitecture, special places. ); basically, the
kind of places you visit when a smart, intelligent local shows you
around.