I lived in Italy for 6 years, and just from my casual conversations with people I would put St. Rita of Cascia in the top 5 of all Italian saints in popular devotion. Yes, St. Anthony of Padua and St. Francis of Assisi would certainly be more popular, but St. Rita is really up there.
I understand that the body of St. Rita Cascia is incorrupt. Were you able to visit the church where her body is?