TIP 2: start with the sounds!
Unlike other languages, Italian is quite easy to read once you learn the basic sounds.
Most complete beginners would like to start going straight to the phrases, but how can you learn a language if you don’t know how to pronunce its sounds?
Once you remember that “a” is always “a” (as “o” in “house”), “e” is always “e” (as in “elephant”) , etc … you can read everything and pronounce every word, even the ones you don’t know yet. You can start with the single sounds and then move on to the syllables. Bit by bit, syllable by sillable.
Ready to go? Grab an Italian magazine, go online, and start practicing.
Useful link: http://www.italianlanguageguide.com/pronunciation/