Italy or Greece recommendations - family hol/site seeing

[Charl_bb]

For next year I'm considering a week in either Italy or Greece for the 'standard' family week in the sun but with a couple of days in either Rome or Athens before coming home. We would want to drive to the city and stay there for a night or 2. Has anyone got recommendations of areas or resorts that would suit the main part of the holiday? Children will be 8 and 5 and we would prefer a villa/large apartment with a shared pool close to the accommodation. Don't want to drive more than 1.5 hours ish to the city.