After many years of travelling, and after many frustrated attempts, I've finally got a budget priced plane ticket (from LHR to NRT) with a proper layover.

MrLapLap and I will be spending 3 nights in Rome.

Is it possible to leave any luggage we need at FCO? We are flying both in and out with Alitalia (or will be if AZ is still operating then...)

Its clearly discussed in English on the Fiumcino website. http://http://www.adr.it/content.asp?L=3&IdMen=628#Deposito%20bagagli (http://www.adr.it/content.asp?L=3&IdMen=628#Deposito%20bagagli) However, I would consider it very carefully before leaving my luggage there for several days.

Thanks again! That's a very useful link.

I'm not overly concerned about leaving luggage with them. It'll just be a case and some clothes - we need to collect quite a lot of stuff from Japan. I'd probably be much more wary about checking a case on the return journey. But thanks for the warning! And I'll make sure the case can be looked through - I'd rather they could see there was nothing worth stealing than have the luggage go missing because I'd made it tamper proof and they couldn't cover up a criminally minded contents inspection. Basically, I won't be shrink wrapping the case.