We used a variety of sources, from internet cafes/pubs to a free terminal in a store, provided by a French telecom company. Here's a quick rundown of what we found. By the way, if you're feeling homesick, the internet cafe is the best place we found to meet other Americans.

By far the best place we found was NetGate. Good price, lots of locations, and more coming in Venice and elsewhere. You buy a time card that you can use at any of the locations.
- Via S. Egidio, 10R, Florence, Italy / Tel 0552347967
- Via Cavour, 144R, Florence, Italy / Tel 055210004
- Via dei Cimatori, 17R, Florence, Italy / Tel 055219491
- Via Nazionale, 156R, Florence, Italy / Tel 0552347967
- Via in Arcione, 103, Rome, Italy / Tel 0669922320
- Piazza Firenze, 25, Rome, Italy / Tel 066893445
- Borgo S. Spirito, 17, Rome, Italy / Tel 066893445
- Stazione Termini Drugstore, room 15, Rome, Italy / Tel 066893445

Bouygues Telecom Store
37, rue de la République, Orleans 45000 France
No kidding, the store in Orleans had a guy in an old-fashioned bellhop uniform manning the door and free, no-strings-attached internet access. Although you can't exactly pull up a chair, their kiosk is a great place to send a quick message. There's a map of all their outlets here.

Café Orbital
13 rue de Médicis 75006 Paris / Tel 01 43 25 76 77
The hippest place to check your email in Paris. Slightly more expensive than Jardin de l'Internet, but stylishly furnished and selling giant pots of tea.

Crazy Bull Cafe
Via Monte Grappa, 11, Bologna, Italy / Tel. 051235043
This "American Bar" has outlets all over Italy, and the one in Bologna (and maybe others) has a few internet terminals. They were radically more expensive than other places we used.

Le Jardin de l'Internet
79 blvd Saint Michel 75005 Paris / Tel 01 44 072 220
A bare-bones place near the Sorbonne; the best rate we found in Paris.