Fancy Italy - any recommendations?

[goingmadinthecountry]

There are 6 of us for this August - me, dh, dd18, dd16, ds15 and dd8. We've been to Sardinia, Venice, Venice Lido, Rome, Sorrento (with Pompeii), Lake Maggiore (with Milan) and Florence, Sienna and Sestri Levante pre kids but never the east coast (except Venice). We like some culture, nowhere very busy, no desire for family entertainment but would like a decent pool/beach. Little restaurants/bars in a town or village are much more preferable to eating in a hotel or self catering. Don't fancy a villa unless it is serviced and lovely. We'd rather fly or fly/drive than put up with little dd doing are we there yet for hours. All input very much appreciated.

Thanks

Hi, it is not an easy task finding somewhere in Italy that is not too busy in August!
Would youwant to be based in just one location or would you be happy to tour 1 area/region?
Sea or mountains?

Not too much travelling because with 6 people it gets to be a bit of a major packing/unpacking event, but maybe 2 locations - we'd like mountains as long as there was somewhere to swim/watersports for older kids. Sea not that important.

Maybe we need to widen our search. I hate looking for holidays!

Actually, I just need to go on holiday in the 1950s/60s!

Have you thought of an agriturismo? We booked this place in August last year agriturismo in Tuscany

It is rural, quiet, has a lovely pool but is also near the motorway so that you can visit the local sights. It was very hot though!

Although we were self-catering, some of the agriturismos are more like boutique hotels.

We had a two centre holiday and spent the second week in the Tuscan sea side resort of San Vincenzo. Not much culture, but our teenager loved it. We stayed here Santa Cecilia which was lovely.

We are going to Lake Garda this year, for the first time. It looks beautiful with lots to do and may not be as hot.

Good luck with your search.

There was great bit in the Sunday Times a few week ago about where the Italians go including a 1950's/60's island of the west coast that was free of Brits and utterly charming. Don't know if you can track article down but it sounded right up your strata

Some great pointers, thank you. I subscribe to Times online so will have a search after work tomorrow. Hadn't even thought of Agriturismo.