It's fun to dig up that kind of stuff, it was the reason why this interested me so much.
Basically what I've got so far magic wise is that the magical traditions in Italy are widespread and different. What I can remember from my childhood is a kind of folk magic, heavily influenced by Catholicism, far removed from its once pagan origins. It's like a veiled form of witcraft, practised mainly by Catholics who don't view it as witchcraft and would be highly offended to be called or be known as a witch. Nowadays they call this tradition Benedicaria.
Personally I didn't care much for this tradition and I wanted to go back to the pagan roots so I found the Stregheria faith. It is an Italian nature based religion similar but also different to Wicca, it uses magic in a more ritual like setting which would go well with the types of magic in this story.