Can you explain the difference between “mi piace” and “mi piacciono” in Italian?

From discussion thus far you might already have understood that “mi piacciono" employs the third person plural form of the verb and translates as “they (understood) please me”, i.e. I like them.

Contrary to English “I like it", “mi piace” is not a personal expression with “I" as the subject. In Italian the subject and object are transposed — “mi piace" literally means “it pleases me". The verb is third person singular.

Thank you for your question.

Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Raptors? What a trade could look like as reported mutual interest exists - CBS Sports

Le scarpe mi piacciono. - I like the shoes. (The shoes please me.)

La veste mi piace. - I like the dress. (The dress pleases me).

The endings of verbs indicate person and number in Italian and subject pronouns may therefore be omitted except when necessary for clearness or emphasis. In the case of “it" and “they" (referring to things) they are almost never used.

Report: Women's sports athletes to file appeal on House vs. NCAA settlement citing Title IX violations - On3.com

The direct object pronoun “mi" is the object of the verb “piacere" (to please). Also known as conjunctive, such pronouns generally precede the verb that governs them. The expression “mi piace", employing third person singular format, translates literally to English as “it (understood) pleases me", i.e. I like it.

A couple of examples: