Pasta, Piazzas & PSA: George’s Rome Picks + Florence Finds
PSA Convention 2026 is almost here, and we’re looking forward to joining the PSA community in Rome and Florence from 5–10 October as a proud sponsor of this year’s event.
Our Founder & CEO, George Zitko, will be there throughout the week and, by very good timing, he recently returned from Rome after visiting with his wife, Vicky.
So, before everyone makes the journey over from the U.S., we asked George for a few of the places they particularly enjoyed.
PSA already has a brilliant programme lined up across both cities, so we’re not going to give you another itinerary to follow.
Instead, think of this as the extra ideas.
A few places to eat, interesting things to know about some of the sights already on the PSA agenda, and a few things worth looking out for if you find yourself with a spare hour, an empty suitcase or room for one more plate of pasta.
First things first: George’s picks for Rome
Let’s start with arguably the most important question.
Where should you eat?
George and Vicky managed to put a few places to the test during their recent trip, and there are three in particular they’d recommend remembering.
For carbonara: Pommidoro dal 1890
If carbonara is part of your Rome plans, remember this name: Pommidoro dal 1890.
Stanley Tucci visited Pommidoro while filming Searching for Italy, so expectations were already fairly high when George and Vicky went to try it for themselves.
Their verdict? Put it on the list.
Traditional Roman carbonara is made with guanciale, egg, pecorino and black pepper. No cream required.
If there was ever a good excuse for some pre-Convention carb loading, this is probably it.
For tiramisu: Two Sizes
Pasta sorted. Now dessert.
George and Vicky also recommend Two Sizes if you’re a tiramisu fan.
The concept is pretty much exactly what the name suggests: freshly made tiramisu in two sizes, with the classic alongside a selection of other flavours.
It’s an easy stop to add while you’re exploring the city too, so perhaps one for the walk between landmarks.
For a special evening: Il Pagliaccio
If you’re looking to make a night of it, George also recommends Il Pagliaccio for a Michelin-starred dining experience.
It’s a very different experience from a plate of traditional Roman carbonara, giving you something a little more special if you have an evening free.
So George and Vicky’s Rome food list gives you:
Carbonara. Tiramisu. Fine dining.
Not a bad three-course strategy.
When in Rome, eh?
Now for Rome itself
PSA’s Rome programme already includes some of the city’s biggest landmarks, with excursion options taking in places including the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Vatican City.
So rather than repeat the sightseeing list, here are a few things to know while you’re seeing them.
Did you know? The Trevi Fountain raises serious money
If you’re joining PSA’s Ciao Roma walking tour, the Trevi Fountain is already on the route.
And there’s more to all those coins than meets the eye.
Around €3,000 can be thrown into the fountain in a single day, with the amount collected over a year reaching around €1.5 million.
The money is collected and donated to Caritas, helping support charitable initiatives and services for people in need across Rome.
So that traditional coin thrown over your shoulder in the hope of returning to Rome does some good along the way too.
And speaking of returning to Rome…
George appears to have taken the tradition fairly seriously. He’s heading back only a few weeks after his last visit.
One useful change for 2026
If you want to get right down to the basin area closest to the Trevi Fountain, there is now a €2 entry fee for tourists and non-residents, introduced in February 2026.
You can still see the fountain from the surrounding piazza without paying; the charge applies to access to the inner area closest to it.
Worth knowing before you get there.
Leave a little room in the suitcase
Don’t forget to stock up on pasta.
If you pass a supermarket, deli or local food shop, go in.
Pasta, coffee, biscuits, olive oil and other Italian staples make very easy souvenirs, although how much actually makes it home is another question.
And if food isn’t taking up all the available luggage allowance, have a look at the clothing stores too.
From Italian designer names and luxury shopping to independent boutiques and familiar high-street brands, there’s something for pretty much every taste and budget.
Food, fashion, architecture, history, wine, art.
There really is something for everyone.
Then it’s on to Florence
On Thursday, PSA heads north to Florence, with the programme continuing through Friday before travel day on Saturday.
And once again, PSA has already done a lot of the sightseeing planning for you.
Their Florence excursions include options covering the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, Uffizi Gallery, Accademia and Michelangelo’s David, so you don’t need us to give you the same list again.
Instead, here are a few little extras worth keeping an eye out for.
Did you know? Florence has tiny wine windows
This might be our favourite Florence fact.
Hidden in the walls of old buildings throughout the city are tiny arched openings known as buchette del vino, or wine windows.
Around 170 historic wine windows are thought to remain around Florence.
They date back centuries and were originally used by Florentine families to sell wine directly from their properties onto the street.
And they haven’t all disappeared into history.
Some have been brought back into use, with bars, cafés and even gelato shops serving customers through them today.
So while you’re walking around Florence, keep an eye on the walls.
If you spot a tiny arched opening, take a closer look.
There might just be wine on the other side.
Want to find one?
You don’t need to go on a full wine-window hunt to spot one. There are historic buchette del vino dotted all over central Florence, including several close to places already on the PSA itinerary.
Keep an eye out around Via del Trebbio, Via dei Palchetti, Via de’ Ginori and Via de’ Pucci. And if you want to see one actually being used, Babae on Via Santo Spirito is one of the best-known working examples.
There’s even one at Vivoli on Via Isola delle Stinche where the traditional wine window has been given a slightly different job: serving gelato.
Wine or gelato through a tiny Renaissance window? When in Florence…
If shopping is more your thing…
Those joining PSA’s Ciao Florence walking tour will already pass through Via Tornabuoni, one of Florence’s best-known streets for luxury fashion and boutiques.
So if Italian fashion is on your list, you’re already heading in the right direction.
Florence is also famous for its long history of leather craftsmanship, so you’ll find leather shops and workshops dotted throughout the city.
Just remember that whatever you buy still needs to make it back across the Atlantic.
Choose the suitcase space wisely.
The pasta is competing for it.
And what should you eat in Florence?
George’s personal recommendations come from his recent Rome trip, so we’ll leave Florence open for the PSA community to discover for themselves.
But there are a few Tuscan classics worth recognising when you see them.
Bistecca alla Fiorentina
Florence’s famous thick-cut steak, traditionally served rare and usually large enough to share.
Schiacciata
Tuscan flatbread filled with meats, cheeses and vegetables. Particularly useful if you need something quick between plans.
Tuscan wine
You’re in the heart of Tuscany, with Chianti country nearby. Enough said.
And, of course, if you discover somewhere brilliant during PSA Convention, make sure you tell George.
We need recommendations for the next guide.
See you in Italy
We’re proud to be sponsoring PSA Convention 2026, and George will be joining the PSA community throughout the week in Rome and Florence.
If you’d like to make sure you get some time with him while you’re there:
If you spot him during the Convention, come over, introduce yourself and, if you’ve already found somewhere better for carbonara, be prepared to make your case.
Safe travels from the U.S., enjoy Italy and we’ll see you very soon.
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