Laced with winding waterways and set on the banks of the Neva River, St Petersburg is famous for its astounding beauty. Located at the head of the Gulf of Finland, in the far northwest of Russia, St Petersburg is the gateway to a magnificent region filled with deep lakes, towering cliffs and ancient pine forests. For those looking to experience the majesty of north-western Russia, Porsche Travel Experience has a new package that puts you behind the wheel of a Porsche Cayenne in the heart of this incredible landscape.
Start your journey with us at Hotel Astoria, an Art Nouveau icon in central St Petersburg. Spend your morning exploring the city’s famous cultural sites, before driving into the countryside for a delicious lunch at Ryba na Dache. From here, the driving journey really begins, as you make your way through Karelia’s scenic lakes, cliffs and curving roads, stopping to watch the sunset in the nature resort of Ladoga Manor, on the banks of Ladoga Lake.
For those looking for more challenging driving, the following day features plenty of off-road adventures, down unpaved roads and across wooden bridges and rivers, as well as the opportunity to really put your foot down. Your final destination for the day is the spectacular Ruskeala Mountain Park. Explore the abandoned marble quarry, now a deep canyon filled with clear emerald water and framed by steep rocks, before driving back to Ladoga Manor.
Follow the shores of the Gulf of Finland as you wind your way back to St Petersburg, taking in the stunning scenery as you go. Arriving back in the city centre, a lavish dinner will be waiting for you at Hotel Astoria. Located just across the road from St Isaac’s Cathedral, and within a short walk of Nevsky Prospect, Palace Square and the Mariinsky Theatre, you’ll be perfectly positioned to explore the city’s leading attractions on your final day.
Get behind the wheel of a Porsche and discover stunning natural scenery with Porsche Travel Experience’s new package. For more information please email reservations.astoria@roccofortehotels.com or call +7 812 494 5757.
Paris is always a good idea. Except, perhaps, when it’s hosting the Olympic Summer Games, and the usual tourist throng looks set to multiply almost prohibitively. Of course, the Games are exciting, but if wading through crowds feels like a marathon effort, try a cultural relay around one of these stunning European cities instead.
As the gentle glow of each ornate chandelier begins to dim, a hush descends upon the audience before an all-consuming world of tragedy and triumph unfolds. Both exhilarating and deeply moving, a night at the opera has the distinct power to evoke emotion, while offering a unique insight into a perhaps unfamiliar city.
Journey through Europe’s symphony of unmissable opera houses, each steeped in history and grandeur.
They say the lobby is the beating heart of any hotel; where first impressions linger, inspiring journeys begin and end, and friends and lovers reunite. Upon entering Hotel de Rome, an immediate sense of calm is restored, as light pours in from the glass atrium and plants and palms breathe new life into the space. Olga Polizzi, Director of Design at Rocco Forte Hotels, shares her inspiration behind the hotel lobby’s new look.
