mandmlv

My husband and I will be spending a long weekend outside of San Gimignano in late May. We will be flying into Rome and heading up the Autostrada to our hotel. We would like to return to Fuimicino by a different route and are thinking about taking the coastal route. Any suggestions as to route and, particularly, which towns would be worth a stop on our way south? Thanks.

bobthenavigator

Yes, I have done that---I trust you will have an overnite.

Take the backroads to Massa Maratimma--one of the undiscovered hill towns. Then, head to the coast and spend the nite on Monte Argenatrio. There are two towns there--Porto Santo Stefano is a fishing village on the north end and Porto Ercole is a resort town on the south end--take your pick. You are then about 2 hours drive to FCO to drop your car. Hope this helps.

zeppole

It's spelled "Massa Marittima" and "Monte Argentario".

Massa Marittima is the showcase town in the area. The abbey of San Galgano is the showcase sight, and it also requires taking back roads (and I doubt you have time for both).

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...an_galgano.jpg

I would describe Porto Santo Stefano as more of a pleasure boat harbor (with sports fishermen):

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...tefano_001.jpg

Porto Ercole has a very expensive resort in town, but also budget accommodations and is just a sleepy place:

http://maremma.guidatoscana.it/obj/i...rto-ercole.jpg

If you are looking to just have lunch on your way to FCO, some possibilities that pop to mind are:

the legendary, michelin-starred and whoppingly expensive Gambero Rosso in San Vicenzo

a more modest lunch in the seaside town of Castiglione della Pescaia

http://www.viamichelin.co.uk/web/Res...ights=&people=

or Magliano in Toscana if you get an earlier start

http://www.viamichelin.co.uk/web/Res...i=138956_41102

or just head down the coast and stop for an incredibly convenient but truly tasty lunch at Locanda Ansendonia on the SS1

http://www.viamichelin.co.uk/web/Res...i=143744_41102

zeppole

Sorry for my typo: It's Ansedonia

mandmlv

Grazie mille to both of you. We will most likely do the drive from San Gimignano to FCO in one day. I will do some more reading but I am thinking we may just stop at Porto San Stefano to have a look around and have lunch there or stop at Locanda Ansedonia -- it looks lovely in the photo on its website. I was in Castiglione della Pescaia a year or two ago while cycling along the coast and while it is tempting to return I expect that we will stop further south. Again, thanks for the advice.

zeppole

Locanda Ansedonia is pretty much at the "gateway" through Orbetello to Porto Santo Stefano. If you arrive well before the lunch hour, make your way to Porto Santo Stefano and have your lunch there. But if it's past noon already, eat at the Locanda, and hopefully it's pretty garden in the back will be open. Then go have a look at Porto Santo Stefano.

Zerlina

The Gambero Rosso in San Vincenzo closed some years ago. Fulvio Pierangelini is now a highly paid consultant to top-end restaurants.

mandmlv

Zeppole, thanks for the info on logistics -- they can make all the difference. Should we end up having lunch at Porto Santo Stefano, any recommendations?

Michael

Tarquinia if only for its Etruscan museum and tombs. The beginning of this set might whet your appetite:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7622914974923/

mandmlv

Thanks, Michael. I have not been to Tarquinia but it looks lovely.