@dayswithaY *Urgh hmm the Cool Mums are out in force on this one. You're just looking back wearing very rose tinted spectacles at your own youth and wishing you could have a romantic Italian summer of your own.
She's only just 16 and in her first sexual relationship, therefore she's vulnerable and very trusting. He's 19 and the power balance seems off. Parents that speak little English, have provided sketchy details and won't even be under the same roof? No, no and no*
And that's a no from me too, to all of that, I've just been to Italy a lot and know a lot of Italians and they are very family focused and careful - far more so than here. The son may not be that worldly at 19 (could be just 19) and the daughter could be almost 17 and running rings around him!
This is the age where kids are breaking away, taking risks and living to tell the tale. As responsible parents you do the basics (teach them how to look after themselves) but they MUST do the rest themselves. No one learns through being told.
So she's with a family. He's a boyfriend who is known not a stranger. The family live here so not vanishing. Italy is a pretty safe country - safer than the UK. You make sure she has access to a credit card and learns to speak Italian well enough to get herself out of trouble and you make sure she texts you most days. She has an amazing time most of the time, has some minor problems she overcomes and grows up a wee bit.
Or you tell her no, separate her from her first love and make her sit here. Where she will be missing him and doing what exactly? Drinking too much with mates? It's not romantic it's realistic.
It's about looking at real risk not saying this girl got kidnapped in Italy by a criminal so she can't go. Ok so his family are not wealthy - no English plus only getting 10 days hol tells me that.
it's also a massive leap to paint him as a predator. He's almost certainly possibly a mummy's boy (still a thing there) a maybe a bit naive hence the younger gf. Maybe not very confident with girls and at that age probably in love. Not sure why he's there till Oct (apart from because he can) and what he does here (a student?) but you find that out. If you don't like what you find out it's a no.
Also where is she going - all of Italy is on holiday in August and most holiday there or nearby (it's a month so most do there and maybe a week or two abroad). So no where will be quiet. There are eyes and ears everywhere and adults who will look out for a young english girl.
She needs to learn decent Italian though. Not just where's the train but a few phrases to get proper help. Your phone number in Italian. 'Please call the police they won't let me go' Etc. I don't feel well. Is there a doctor that speaks English.