Yes, the backyard has worked well for me, thankfully.
If there is no one local to give you a tutorial, then I think you can get started (assuming basic English language understanding) with John Coffer's manual and DVD set:
http://www.johncoffer.com
It is VERY informative and the videos allow you to visualize what he is explaining, just like a tutorial (though obviously not interactive).
You may also visit the collodion forum at
www.collodion.com There is a LOT of useful information there. Use the "search" feature (but be sure to set the date parameter to unlimited because the default is 6 months. On the forum, I think you will find good information for suppliers of materials/chemicals in Europe, including Italy.
Regards,
Ed