If you go to the bottom of the page of this website, you will see some pictures of Italian night train seats. http://www.seat61.com/Italy.htm

The Man in Seat 61 is one of the links in our Links Library: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheTravelzine/links

I have only been on one night train - from Nice to Rome. We had couchettes in a 6-berth compartment. We were travelling on Eurail passes and didn't want to spend a lot extra. My husband, two teens and I shared with an Italian man and an American woman. Didn't get a lot of sleep but we got into Rome bright and early!

We booked in Paris so I can't tell you about booking online. Frances Toronto, Canada