Category: Italy
Deciphering the hotel star-rating system.
If you've wandered around European cities, you've probably noticed that the star-rating system doesn't make a lot of sense. You'll see a three-star designation on an absolute dump, while that perfectly charming little auberge down the street has a solitary star.If you've wondered what's up with that, you're not alone. Many of the complaints on tripadvisor are because the reviewer expected a level of service or accommodation from the hotel's star designation that the property didn't deliver.
Here's why.
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Rome's enchanting Quartiere Coppede.
Most people who come to Rome for its fantastic architecture enjoy its Classical, Renaissance, and Baroque masterpieces.
But there's a magical, architectural wonderland in Rome that most visitors know nothing about. It's a little off the beaten path -- a short stroll from the Villa Borghese -- near the Piazza Buenos Aires. Called the Quartiere Coppede, it was built between 1919 and 1926 by Florentine architect Gino Coppede in the Italian Art Nouveau or Liberty style.
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Vatican treasures touring the U.S.
The Vatican Museums in Rome attract 4 million visitors a year. About 3.9 million spend so much time waiting in line, that once they get in, they take one of the color-coded routes to the Sistine Chapel and call 'er done. Which is a shame, because the Museums' Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Etruscan, and Renaissance collections are among the finest in the world.
This summer, you can see 2,000 years of Vatican art and history without even crossing the pond. Vatican Splendors from Saint Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and the Swiss Guard showcases more than 200 works of art, artifacts, and mosaics -- many of which are rarely on display.
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Cruising tips for non-cruisers -- Part 2.
A couple of weeks ago, we posted the first in a series of tips designed to help independent travelers enjoy cruising. European 
cruises are such a good deal this year, even hardened non-cruisers might want to reconsider.
Our first tip was to get away from the hoards by renting a car. You can read that post at http://www.tripaddiction.com/blog/post.cfm/cruise-tips-for-people-who-dont-like-cruising.
Tip number two is to book a cruise that goes to less frequently visited ports. These off-the-beaten-path destinations are usually more intimate and easier for independent travelers to explore on their own.
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The best pizza in Naples.
Most serious pizza aficionados agree that for the world’s best pie, you have to go to Naples -- although you do so at your own peril. Because once you eat pizza in Naples, nothing else will ever satisfy you.Here’s why.
In 1998, the Italian government recognized that Neapolitan pizza was a national treasure worthy of formal protection. So they gave it Denominazione di Origine Controllata or DOC status (like Chianti or Parma ham). And defined how the real deal is made.
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