Possible Clues:

• Knock back Mother Violet, sounding as if sent from Italy
• Italian city; type of ham
• It. city famous for ham
• Ohio city
• Such a ham can be a weapon in father's grasp
• Parents on opposite sides of river in Italian city
• It. ham city; its Charterhouse, Stendhal
• 'Cheesy' Italian city
• City near Milan
• Standard degree offered by this Italian city