Florence and Rome questions Brunelleschi Pass and Termini Station

I would love to be at Roma Termini from 11:00am to 1:00pm AND with all my luggage --- I'd be eating lunch at Rome's Mercato Centrale. It's on the side of the train station that faces southwest, and is a busy, fun, delicious place to eat and to people-watch. And has nice bathrooms.

If you can store your bags somewhere, and it's open, you could instead go to the very near Museo Nazionale Romano, Palazzo Massimo for some great ancient Roman paintings and sculpture. It's a five minute walk.

Thank you - My daughter whose schedule causing the drama was suggesting two stop ride to colloseum but that might stress me out. Don't want to miss train. We will also be jet lagged. Landing early that morning (9 hour flight). Unfortunately this will be our only time in Rome (that's what is not ideal).

Look through the Google Maps photos of Mercato Centrale Roma and you'll get some idea why we eat there whenever we are going through Termini. Plus, how many places can you eat at with your luggage and not feel awkward?

Unfortunately, you have to activate/validate the pass at the time you reserved for the Dome climb. You can visit the other sites without a reservation within 3 days of the original timed-entry slot. My wife and I purchased the Giotto Pass and did the tower climb and visited the other sites all on the same day.

ugh that's kind of what i feared...we will be there for a day before i planned to do the climb. this wasn't part of our original itinerary but have decided we should make time for it.

can you book just the climb as a standalone?

or, maybe i can squeeze it into a different spot. any insight into the amount of time it takes to do the climb?

thanks

Unfortunately (again), there's no stand alone ticket for just the Dome climb. Of course, if you purchased the pass and just did the climb and nothing else, it would be its own "stand alone" pass, but, at 30 Euros, that's quite expensive. It took us 30 minutes to climb the tower, but we stopped at each viewpoint. there are 414 steps for the tower and 463 steps for the Dome climb. I'll let other respond to your specific question about the amount of time for the Dome climb.

I'm glad I asked about the ticket activation timing....THANK YOU!

Will have to see if I can find a different time for the climb so we can activate ticket a day sooner. 30 Euro for climb only is too pricey - agreed

Our first day we arrive by Florence by train at noon...have to then dump luggage at hotel and have timed accademia at 4:30 already booked --- maybe we could swing a 2pm-ish climb? Second day we have uffizi in the afternoon - plan was climb day 2 in the morning.

We are completely wide open the third day of our Florence stay - no plan at all, but were considering chianti wine afternoon. 2pm ish start....that said we could use the pass that morning? Considering boboli as well, but not sure it will in bloom enough for it to be a must see. Was trying to lock in a few key things and not over schedule. Slight wrinkle is that Florence day 3 we will be with our abroad student who will have seen most attractions already (hence the chainti trip idea).

Re Roma Termini - keep in mind that it is immense, so you would have to factor in navigating to your departing train, which includes determining the track it departs from, which may not be listed all that far in advance. So two hours may pass rather quickly.

If you are arriving from FCO on the Leonardo Express, you are already on the same side of the terminal as Mercato Centrale, which may be the best use of your time after a long flight. An upscale food court, you have numerous choices - I would recommend the chicken cacciatore at Trapizzino. Your sales receipt grants you free access to their very nice pay WCs. Note that it is then a LONG walk back to the front of the terminal where you enter the secure passenger area. Might help to watch a couple of YouTube videos re navigating the station, especially one covering arrival from the airport.

The last thing I would want to attempt is a Metro ride down to the Colosseum with luggage in tow. If you're up for sightseeing instead of food, nearby tourist sites include the National Museum [admission charge] as mentioned above, the Baths of Diocletian [free] and the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore [free].

You could also put together a nice picnic from Mercato Centrale to consume on the train.

we will be arriving on the leonardo express. thanks so much for the ideas/feedback helpful.