Hm, well re: Italians on platonic friendship, I did read someone's personal opinion that Italians in general tend to be more touch-affectionate. So perhaps (and maybe I don't know enough about Italian culture to make any definitive statements) affectionate gestures like holding hands aren't reserved for couples -- it's possibly/probably something co-ed friends can do platonically, as well. After all, in the U.S. girls can hold hands with their girl friends -- but not their guy friends?