Italy - how far South to be able to swim in the sea or unheated pool in last week of May?

[Lovage]

Assuming you are robust British types who don't require it to be really warm to swim, just not teeth-chatteringly cold for DCs aged 9 & 7ish.

I really want to go to Liguria (in the North) but am wondering if we'd need to be further south before unheated pools and the sea became useable in May half-term.

My dp and dds have swum near lerici (google maps it! Specifically san terenzo.) in may half term with no problems. If the weather is hot, it doesn't matter as much that the sea hasn't warmed up yet. I haven't, but i potentially wouldn't make it into the water in the summer either.

just take those mini wet suits just in case and make sure they understand in advance there is no way you are going in with them!

Sea was lovely and warm off Sardinia in May. Definitely no wetsuits required.

Great, thanks. Wetsuits and gritted teeth it is.