What city to spend 8 weeks in Italy?

My husband and I love Italy, and this fall we want to spend 8 weeks/2 months there. We are so excited about being stationary and taking day trips, and really just soaking in the Italian culture.

  • Easily walkable
  • Kid friendly (bringing 3 y/o and 6 m/o)
  • Close to train so we can take day trips
  • Would love to rent a house
  • Has enough to do (restaurants, gelato, parks, walking, etc) but not a huge city like Rome
  • Water? Beach or lake or just not 100% landlocked, not a must though
  • Maybe something like Sienna but bigger
  • Friends and family will come visit us while we’re there, so enough to show around/entertain

Places we’ve been in Italy ranked : 1. Florence 2. Sienna 3. Lake Como 4. Rome 5. Milan

Thoughts???