Literary Travel in London, Florence and Rome
Guided by the pages of influential writers, we explore the imagination behind the most romantic of European cities.
An iconic landmark in St. Petersburg, for over a century the Hotel Astoria has embodied the sophistication and opulence of Imperial Russia and its proud history. 24 hours a day, the softly-lit Lichfield Bar offers a range of delectable drinks featuring typically Russian ingredients, the newest of them our signature cocktail, the Birch Spritz.
An unofficial symbol of Russia the birch tree, or bereza, is heralded in song, art and literature and its sweet sap is the key ingredient in this brand-new cocktail. Created by Head Bartender Mr. Daniil Minchin to pay homage to a tree synonymous with purity and light, the Birch Spritz is both refreshing and uplifting.
Ingredients
20ml Beluga Noble vodka
20ml lemon juice
20ml sugar syrup
80ml Prosecco
100ml Birch juice
A redcurrant raceme
Method
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the Beluga Noble vodka, lemon juice, sugar syrup and birch juice and shake well.
Add ice cubes to a glass. Strain the shaken cocktail mixture over the ice.
Top up the glass with Prosecco, and garnish with a redcurrant raceme for effect.
To book a table in the Lichfield Bar at Hotel Astoria, please email reservations.astoria@roccofortehotels.com or call +7 812 494 5770.
Guided by the pages of influential writers, we explore the imagination behind the most romantic of European cities.
Sicily is “the key to everything”, or so wrote Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in his works, Italian Journey. Throughout history, the largest island in the Mediterranean has captivated travellers as a land of myth, natural beauty and ancient memory. Shaped by Greek colonies, Emirates of Crete, Roman Provinces, Norman Kingdoms and Spanish rule, Sicily holds the imprint of civilisations past. Woven into its landscapes, their presence remains with its buildings, ruins and along the pretty coastal paths that follow its shores.
Vivacious, glamorous, powerful. Few figures encapsulate the effortless grandeur of the Belle Époque quite like Donna Franca, our Sicilian muse. Famed for her petite frame, thick dark hair and an exquisite fashion sense that has endured for over a century, Franca was the epitome of an era that placed beauty and high fashion at its forefront.