I have not read 'The Italian' either but I know that it is a Gothic novel centering on two young lovers named Ellena and Vivaldi and the attempts of the villains to keep them apart. But in the end, of course, they come together. In between there is a lot of kidnapping, mysterious ruins, dark forests, gloomy castles, dangerous situations etc.

Maybe the frequent mentioning of this novel alludes to the fact that "Pride and Prescience" itself is extremely Gothic.
There has already been a a lot of gallopping horses, witchcraft and voodoo or hypnosis, a suicide attempt/attack on Caroline, a carriage accident of the Bingleys, a great fire and I'm sure there will be a lot more ahead of us. So many dangerous things have not occurred in all of JA's works together!