1) Just for curiosity, when i use to talk in my local dialect (south of italy, used in sicily island) spanish persons (from catalogna above all) understand me clearly, maybe more if i can use italian :) Funny, or not? However, it's not so complex to understand each other (SPA-ITA), i'll try to contact some users that use POR just to see if it's easier, never talked witha portoguese!
2-3 dunno....
last) Italian language is very very difficult and complex, but is beautiful and more useful than you could imagine!