Italian beach holiday for 4yo and baby

[FuniculiFunicula]

Looking for a holiday with our then 4yo and 10mo for next May/June - our last chance to get abroad outside of the school holidays. We'd love to go to Italy mostly for the food, and to fly from our nearest airport for ease, so our options are places within reach of Pisa, Rome, Venice or Naples airports.

We'd like to stay somewhere within easy walking distance of a nice sandy beach to keep our 4yo happy, but preferably in a pretty/interesting town rather than a purpose built tourist resort/town iyswim, so there's something to do other than spend all day every day on the beach. We also need somewhere we can park a car as we don't want to be lugging luggage plus kids on public transport, and don't want to go on a coach without car seats.

So far all the places I've looked seem to be a compromise on either the beach or the prettiness or the parking. Do any of you wise mumsnetters have any suggestions?

Bump - or does my ideal holiday destination not exist?

The Oleandri Resort Paestum is lovely. It's more of a resort though, than a hotel in a town...
What's your budget? Viarregio is a nice seaside town with a sandy beach with lots of hotels and holiday apartments.

Thanks sienna - the resort does look lovely but think I'd prefer a town or village really. Viareggio could work perhaps - the long stretch of beach isn't my ideal but I may be being too picky as all the smaller beaches I've seen aren't sandy! Budget around £2000 including flights (which may take up half of that by the time we've paid for seats, luggage etc).

How about Amalfi Coast. Pompei, positano, boat trip to Capri. Parking at the hotel ? or get an AirBnB apartment where owner has a parking place. Maiori is good for base.

Have you ruled out Sicily and Sardinia?
I searched for a beach holiday in mainland Italy for hours and then decided it didn't really seem to exist so we're going to Sardinia in a few weeks - will report back!

Amalfi Coast is lovely but just be aware that there are very very steep steps down to the beaches which might be difficult with your youngest DC.

There's some nice beach towns near Rome too, e.g Sperlonga.
If I were you I'd see where you could get cheapest flights to, then choose a resort near to which ever airport. Airbnb is a good idea. You should be able to get good deals on hotels at that time of year.
If you can get flights to Alghero or Cagliari I would look at those too, Sardegna has the best beach in Italy and the best food imo.

*beaches

The beaches on the Amalfi coast are very small, have black sand and charge you for using them. The area is lovely, but not for what I would call a beach type holiday.

If you're prepared to consider Corfu I can recommend Arillas on the north west coast. The accommodation is mostly low rise self catering and there is a nice beach and lots of tavernas. We last went there 7 years ago and found it ideal for us as we hate brash, noisy resorts full of hen/stag parties.

It is perfect for families and couples who like low key holidays, but with enough going on that you won't get bored.

And the sunsets are marvellous.

Xpost ceevee Sardinia is amazing! Wish I was going there in a few weeks

Yes I am really looking forward to it!

Ive just got back from Sardinia on monday, phew it was hot!
Great beaches and sea for children, very shallow and so clear.
pricey though!

Thanks for all the replies. Would love to try Sardinia but no flights from our local airport and we want to keep arrangements as simple as possible so I think I'll have to rule that out.

Sperlonga looks quite promising though it's a bit further than I'd hoped from both Rome and Naples (looks to be halfway between)? Might have to rethink how far we're prepared to travel in Italy to find somewhere that's just right.

Amalfi coast looks gorgeous but seems like we'd be compromising on beaches, and I think a good beach is really important to keep the 4yo happy!

Lots of food for thought anyway - I'll keep looking at these suggestions.

We hated Sperlonga.

It was bland and a bit grimy and there was only one tiny part of the beach that was free for the hoi polloi general public to use.

We left and went on to Amalfi and then to Ischia and Procida.

What about Ponza? It's an island off the coast between Rome and Naples. Very historic and pretty.

we stayed in Ostia last year - about 15 minutes drive from Lido di Ostia for the beach, and 40 mins on the train from Rome.
we spent half the time at the beach, and half in Rome, which was great.

Lido di Ostia isn't a palm-fringed paradise, but the beaches were clean and well equipped, and not packed, which was fine by us.

we also day-tripped Bracciano, which might work for you. Really pretty town, small beaches on the Lake itself, and again I think it's under an hour by train to Rome.

Can you fly to an airport near Venice Op?
The adriatic has bigger beaches that are child friendly. We stayed at Coarle.