I shall be flying TUN-JED-KUL-JED-TUN at the beginning of February, but, on the return leg, my ultimate destination will be Rome, so I was hoping to get some advice on transiting on a separate ticket through TUN from those familiar with the airport. The flight from JED is scheduled to arrive in TUN at 9:30 a.m. on a Thursday morning. I have identified three possible onward flights to Italy, departing at the following times:

11:25 on ITA to FCO
15:00 on Nouvelair to MXP (and then train to Rome)
19:05 on ITA to FCO

From reading comments here and elsewhere, it seems that the first option would be too tight, given that I'll be on a separate ticket, although if there were a reasonable chance of making it, I suppose I might be willing to take the gamble, and then change to the 19:05 flight if necessary. The second option would allow a connection time of 5.5 hours, which should be ample, but it does entail the additional complication of having to take the train from Milan to Rome. (I have never flown with Nouvelair before, so let me know if there is anything I should be aware of.) The third option would mean a layover of 9.5 hours, in which case I suppose I could go leave the airport and get lunch in town, for instance, and perhaps visit a museum; I am slightly reluctant to do so, as I will have some luggage with me, and, since there is nowhere to store it at the airport, I'll have to lug it around town.

At any rate, all three are neutral from a cost point of view, so I would appreciate advice on which option might be best. Suggestions for how I might spend the 9 hours would be welcome too, if the third option seems best, keeping in mind that I will have spend five days in Tunis already by then. I was thinking of saving the newly-reopened Bardo Museum for my layover, for instance, but my principal concern would be luggage and having to lug it around. Finally, I could pay an extra €400 and avoid TUN altogether to fly directly to Europe, if that would be a sensible amount to spend to avoid the hassle of passing through TUN altogether.

Any thoughts on the above would be most welcome. Thank you.