Fabulous new Lake Como hotel opens.

One of the great things about Lake Como is that it’s changed so little since the 19th century.  The dreamy gardens and romantic villas have a timeless quality that only adds to there appeal.  The fabled hotels and resorts on Lake Como have all been there for as long as anyone could remember.  Until now.

The first new hotel on Lake Como in a century, Casta Diva Resort, is now open in Blevia, near the town of Como.  The 18th-century villa was once the home of opera singer Giuditta Pasta, and Bellini composed Norma and La Sonnambula for her while he was here.

Where to find Rome's best ice cream.

The Italians are really good about protecting their patrimony. When they find something undeniably great -- Parma ham, Neapolitan pizza, Balsamic vinegar from Modena -- they recognize it, venerate it, and then promote it.

If you've spent some time in Rome, you know that one of the city's greatest pleasures is its gelato. In fact, many people -- ourselves included -- believe that Rome has the best ice cream in the world. And, sure enough, the City of Rome has found a way to shortlist the best, by designating some shops as Gelaterie Artigianale.

Street food in Naples, Italy.

Everyone knows that Naples has great pizza. Cooked in a wood-burning stove for 90 seconds at around 900 degrees Fahrenheit, Pizza Napoletana has been awarded DOC status by the Italian government, like Parma Ham or Chianti. It's the bar by which all other pizzas are judged.

Surprisingly portable, it can be folded into a cone and eaten on the run, when necessary. Da Michele and Di Matteo vie for top pizza honors.