I spent 4 months in Italy and I preffered Salerno on the Amalfi Coast. The area of Via Roma has a fab nightlfie - alot of restaurants/bars and the streets were totally PACKED in the summer... great for having a fab meal, a few drinks & chillin' + gorgeous-people watching.... and not too pretentious. We liked the scene near AlCool cafe (walk up the alley beside 'Easy Riders' - and you'll find it) - a little bit of left-wing with a great mix of people. Our cheap sleep was 35euros (double) at an indie place 'mysalerno apartment.com.' If you go to this area eat like mad (especially cheese) - the food is phenomenal.