You can travel in parts of Italy with English more comfortably than older stereotypes suggest. You can also hit low-stakes friction faster than expected once you move beyond the most tourist-shaped settings.
That does not mean Italy is hard. It means the “can I survive?” framing is too crude.
The better question
Ask where English stops being efficient enough for the trip style you want.
If you like independent movement, small local spots, and a little improvisation, local-language prep starts paying off quickly.
One clear next step
Do not treat English coverage as a pass/fail issue. Treat it as one factor in how smooth the trip feels.