Hotel Diana
Plaza de Espana 6, 17320 Tossa de Mar, Girona, Spain
The Story
Where Ava fell in love with Spain
Tossa de Mar on the Costa Brava is where Ava Gardner fell in love with Spain. She stayed here in 1950 while filming the hauntingly romantic Pandora and the Flying Dutchman, with James Mason as her ghostly lover. It was the first of her many films set in the country, and it sparked a lifelong attachment that would eventually draw her to live in Madrid. The Hotel Diana, on the Plaza de Espana, is where Frank Sinatra came to visit Ava on set, and the two stayed here together during one of the more tempestuous chapters of their relationship. More than seventy years later it is still a delightfully romantic boutique hotel, right on the beach.
" Sinatra flew in to visit Ava on set, and the two stayed here together during one of the more tempestuous chapters of their relationship.
A modernist boutique on the beach
This family-run modernist boutique is as different from a grand city hotel as a place can be, and that is entirely the point. Built by a disciple of Gaudi over a century ago, the Diana sits directly on the beach in the medieval town, with sea-view rooms, balconies, and direct beach access. The beachfront restaurant, La Terraza del Diana, has sea views that haven't changed since Gardner and James Mason were filming on the beach below. Ranked number one in Tossa de Mar on Tripadvisor, it is the kind of place where you half expect Ava to walk through the door in a white sundress and ruin everyone's afternoon.
Signature Experiences
La Terraza del Diana
The hotel's beachfront restaurant, with sea views across the bay that haven't changed since Gardner and James Mason were filming on the beach below.
Sea-view rooms with balconies
Sea-facing rooms with balconies and direct access to the beach, in a building built over a century ago by a disciple of Gaudi.
Famous Connections
Who Came Here
As Seen In
Plan Your Visit
Good to Know
- How to Book: Book direct at hotelesdante.com or by phone on +34 972 34 18 86. The hotel is seasonal, so check opening dates before you plan a trip.
- Best Time: Late spring to early autumn, while the hotel is open and the beach is at its best
- Accessibility: Contact the hotel directly to confirm access requirements.
- Tip: The beachfront restaurant, La Terraza del Diana, looks out over the same bay Gardner and Mason filmed on. While in town, don't miss the Ava Gardner statue in the main square, and ask the local baker for a "besos de Ava Gardner" (Ava Gardner's kisses) to nibble on. The medieval walled town, the Vila Vella, that crowns the headland above the beach is still there and still recognisable from the film.
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