Thank you everyone! I do not want advice on how to break the law. I only wanted people's personal experiences as to the reality that would most like occur if I decided to outstay my tourist visa. I am very aware of the risks involved and I do not want to be barred from Italy in the future as I love Italy and it would not be worth it to stay a few extra months.

I thought it would be no big deal to outstay my visa, as I hear that Americans do it all the time but in this post 9/11 and with more recent events, I really have been thinking that it is a risk that I shouldn't take. I wish that Europe and the US had the sort of relationship that exists between EU nations so this wouldn't even be an issue...but if wishes were fishes.

Thanks everyone.