Apart from the immediate move to Tyrolia, the Lepanto, and a Piedmont/Tyrrhenian attack, I've found a nice little combination of moves that can help create a strong position for Italy.
Naples -move to- Ionian Sea
Rome -move to- Naples
Venice -support hold- Trieste
Ionian Sea -convoy from- Naples -to- Tunis
Naples -move to- Tunis (via convoy)
Venice -move to- Tyrolia
build army in Venice
Convoy the army to albania, and attack however you'd like with Tyr-Ven. The simple fact is that it isn't too hard to get at least either Russia or Turkey on your side, and it's fairly easy to stake claims on Trieste, as well as either Greece or Vienna. As long as France holds true, it's a decent strategy that can get you quite a few SCs early. Also, the initial support hold from Venice, usually eases Austria (as they begin to believe whatever lies you said about Lepanto-ing)
here are some of my more recent games in which I've tried this tactic out, to some decent level of success.:
gameID=162978gameID=162760
How to speak in public
. 3 day phases so everyone can have a say. If you have never tried it, public chat is a lot of fun. come on in, the water is fine!
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