Italian coast - north of Rome?

[hornetrider]

Chaps, I've been digging around the net but would appreciate some input from the collective wisdom.

We have 3 days set aside to head from Rome to Siena and plan to kind of wing it up the coast and find some nice places to stay. Has anyone been to this area before - are there plenty of towns/touristy villages? I don't really want to book and was wondering if finding accommodation will be nice and easy. We are travelling next week... thanks for any insight!

[joncon]

viareggio on the coast is very nice, although a little past sienna.
spent our stranded by the ash cloud extra night there, last week.

[whirly]

Not my part of Italy, but would recommend doing a bit of research using Agriturismo as a keyword. Basically these are the little places outside of town which may have 1-10 rooms. Often they can be farms or vineyards, and will often do dinner. They are always a better bet than a hotel.

I advise to have some websites / phone numbers with you, not every town has a tourist office, and if they do, they will only know about their own particular town,not 5km down the road.

In italy there are a lot of small and not particularly special hotels, particularly in places beside the sea (which is packed in August, but quite quiet for the rest of the year).

[speed8]

Anywhere around Castiglioncello or Bibbona is quite nice for chilling out. The coastline up towards Livorno is worth a drive and stop for a coffee at one of the cafe's on the cliffs overlooking the sea. It's usually heaving in August but, as mentioned, check out the agriturismo for rooms somewhere.

Or, take the ferry from Piombino to Elba. It's only 40 mins or so to cross.

[Amateurish]

Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino very nice (as are the rest of the Cinque Terre). Bit of a diversion from your route, but well worth it.

[Olf]

Slightly off-piste but try Elba - Had a couple of days there a couple of years back and it's pretty special an much better beach access than the rest of that coast.