I had more luck with BA (an AA partner) than with Delta (or AF, Alitalia) to go to Italy. In 2001 I could not get an award flight in business class to Italy with Delta/Skyteam at all. Book early!
The next bigger town is Genova. I don't know who flies there.
I was last year in Portofino, very nice, but very crowded. Very small town with plenty of tourists. The police actually closed the street St. Margarita di Pula to Portofino .. open only for people who live there.