Jihadi terrorism has been posing a severe threat to international security for more than two decades. Many European countries serve as important targets and bases of operations for salafi networks. In order to fully comprehend the challenges and threats posed by jihadist terrorism, it is crucial to understand the process of radicalization, which frequently occurs online and through personal interactions. The study explores the issue of violent radicalization in Italy and examines counterterrorism policy that has historically placed a major emphasis on prosecuting, penalizing and expelling radicals. Italy is a major player in the EU’s immigration and security policy. The paper also discusses Italy’s contribution to the international radical salafi movemenet. The article focuses on the circumstances and goals of Italian policies and programs implemented over the past 20 years in response to jihadi activity in the Apennine Peninsula. The paper’s main hypothesis holds that for many years, Italian authorities prioritized on enacting mostly reactive measures to combat terrorism. The methodological analysis is based on the integration of historical and system method and refers to Marc Sageman’s theory of the jihadist networks, which is more appropriate for understanding how they rise and function.