Italy is now facing new challenges connected to the reception of immigrants in its public service structures. Unfortunately, interpreting in this sector is not recognised as a profession and this has a negative impact on the life of immigrants. This paper aims at giving a historical overview of the development of community interpreting as a profession with selected examples in Italy. A field research has been conducted by the author in Rome (CIES - Agenzia di Mediazione Interculturale), Milan (Ufficio Stranieri), Lecce (Questura), and Palermo (ISMETT - Istituto Mediterraneo per Trapianti e Terapèie ad Alta Specializzazione). The picture that emerges serves as basis for a discussion of problems and prospects for the evolution of professional interpreting in the community in Italy.