A skirt to the knees is perfectly appropriate. Head coverings have not been required in Catholic churches for years, and when they were, no one cared what color they were.

I know this may be getting too technical, but will it be okay if it hits right above my knee, where it covers my thighs completely, but sort of skims my knees and you can still see my kneecaps? My grandparents were very traditional and they would've found that offensive, but I don't know that people feel that way anymore.

Look, the fashion these days is for skirts that skim the knees - or are even shorter. Except for some old or very old women, no Italian girl or woman is going to go to church unfashionably dressed, much less invest in a skirt to wear exclusively to church.

Absolutely, Zerlina, going to Mass is a much looked forward to opportunity to dress up and parade about in front of your neighbours so people do. Youngsters will wear whatever's in fashion - leggings with mid-thigh length tops are very popular in my village at the moment - older ladies will wear their best jacket or, in winter, their fur coat. Unless you're down in the south (which is an altogether very different place and bears little resemblance to around here) the country churches that see few visitors are no more conservative than those in the tourist cities, possibly less. Congregations are dropping so the priest is probably only too pleased for anyone who comes in, especially if they buy some candles or leave some money in one of the boxes. I'm afraid I smile quietly when I see the lengthy discussions on this board on this subject in the summer for although I strongly recommend that visitors dress respectfully (and Peggy's recommendations are spot on), in reality, virtually anything goes on a hot summer Sunday in the village churches. In my own, we regularly see spaghetti strap tops or revealing tanks even on the girls in the choir or the ladies who read. Now, I'm not advocating anyone enters a church dressed like this, I'm just highlighting the fact that it happens. All the time. And I think I've posted before on how I was talking to the Parish Priest outside il Duomo in Pienza earlier in the summer when a group of cyclists walked in all dressed in body hugging lycra, even the women. He didn't bat an eyelid, merely moved out of the way to let them in. I was very surprised...

Lastraniera makes a good point: you're more likely to have problems at the relatively few churches that have "dress-code enforcers" - St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, the Duomo in Florence - than at less frequented churches in the cities or in small towns. But I really don't see them objecting to a skirt that comes to but doesn't cover the kneecaps.

If you think you're being respectful, chances are they will too. The fact that you care enough to post a few times about it shows that you're conscious of it and probably won't wear a cami or mini skirt. Just bring something to cover your shoulders and definitely don't wear a skirt that comes above your fingertips when your arms are resting at your sides, and you'll be fine.

Some, few, churches, such as Santa Croce in Florence, are still quite strict bui they provide visitors with plastic poncho style capes if their attire is considered inappropriate

It might not be a bad idea to take a large scarf that you could wrap around your waist just in case. Chances are you won't need it, but I would hate to spend a lot of my vacation time having to go back to the hotel and change.I really doubt anyone is going to care, but I prefer to err on the side of caution since I don't want to miss a sight or spend precious vacation time changing clothes. As others have said, it is mainly St, Peter's St. Mark's and the Duomo and maybe Santa Croce.

The only thing I saw enforced was covering your shoulders. My brother wore shorts through all the churches, I had on capris or skirts, and had no problem. A little scarf over the shoulders works fine.