Financially troubled Italian government wants to reopen brothels to fight illegal street prostitution. dated news article from 2002. It shows Premier Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia party is pro prostitution.
Italy is known for it's catholic influence. Yet, there is a lot of sex for money on offer by escorts and small nightclubs. Most female courtesans are found in North Italy and across the borders of it's neighbours like Switzerland and Austria.