Counter-terror officials are hunting for Mathlouthi Atef, 42, after he was flagged up as a "possible bomber", according to local media.
A mugshot of the Tunisian suspect has been circulated over fears he could strike bars, train stations and shopping centres in Rome.
The alert came after the Italian embassy in Tunisia's capital, Tunis, received an anonymous letter claiming a man was "ready to attack the centre of Rome".
The chilling threat was "considered reliable", according to Rome-based newspaper Il Corriere della Citta.Another newspaper, Il Giornale, reported that Atef is already known to police for drug dealing and "other minor crimes".Italy's military police force, known as the carabinieri, declined to comment.The Foreign Office website warns that "terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Italy" and warns British tourists to be vigilant.It adds: "Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by foreigners. There are isolated cases of domestic terrorism.
"Attacks carried out by the extreme left-wing and secessionist groups have generally been aimed at official Italian targets, mainly in the form of small bombs and incendiary devices.
"The Italian authorities have made a number of arrests of individuals with links to Daesh [Islamic State] and other extremist groups.