[Closed] Car hire in Italy and third party insurance questions.

I'm off to Italy in the summer for a couple of weeks. The plan is to pick a car up at the airport and drive from north to south over the two weeks and drop the car off the other end. I've heard of folks taking out third party insurance so you don't need to take out the hire companies insurance. Has anyone done this and if so who would you recommend.? Also are any hire companies favoured over others.? I'm going to be tied somewhat as they need to be located at two different airports so I suppose it's going to come down to the usual suspects.?