Well... About Berlusconi... It's indeed a suspicious man.
I've been to, what Bossi called, Padania: Firenze, Torino, Venice,...and to Rome.
And really, the people I spoke to said all to me it's blown up in het foreign media... But I take your word for it Don Michel, I wasn't specificly looking for mob presence. Was more interested in touristic stuff. I can imagine that when you live there, you'll meet them soon.