recommendations for a multi-generational holiday in Italy in July please!

[cheritongirl]

we are planning to go on holiday with our ds who will be 18 months or so + my parents and sister next July somewhere in Italy.
My dad used to go there as a child a lot but none of the rest of us have been.
Where would you recommend? We would like to be near the sea i think, probably self-catering, maybe with a pool - but possibly with easy-ish access to an interesting city or two??
My dad thinks we should head for an island as it will be really hot on the mainland - think he is paranoid but what do you think?!
cheers

Try the province of Le Marche (pronounced Le Markay, it's to the east of Umbria. Go somewhere near San Ginesio or Sarnano. Fantastic scenery but virtually no tourists and about 45 mins to the coast for a day on the beach (full on Italian, lines of sun loungers). Went there for the first time this summer and thogut it was great. From UK you can fly to Ancona or Pescara. We went here www.azienda-cerqueto.com/ which was great but probably not for a toddler (pool not fenced).

How about Lake Garda? If you stay to the south of the lake then you can catch a train direct to Venice and Verona is a bus ride away. There are some amazingly beautiful towns to visit around the southern and eastern shores of the lake (Sirmione, Lazise, Garda town, Torri del Benaco) plus there is a zoo I believe in the area. Have you considered staying in an apartment on a campsite (for example here where there would be loads to keep your ds amused. There is also a hotel on this site (near the apartments) so your parents/sister could stay there if they preferred.