HOSTAL DE LA GAVINA

Those seeking respite from bustling Barcelona can find refuge along the northeast coast of Spain s beautiful Costa Brava where they are swept up in the spectacular beauty of the region s rugged cliffs and secluded beaches. At the heart of the Costa Brava in the private enclave of S Agaro is Hostal de La Gavina. Established by visionary hotelier Josep Ensesa i Gubert in the early 1920s he dreamed of a garden city that overlooked the Mediterranean. The jewel of his S Agaro vision was Hostel de La Gavina the first luxury hotel in Costa Brava when it opened in 1932. The hotels fourth-generation owners the Ensesa family continue the tradition of hospitality maintaining the elegant spirit of the grand hotel by the sea. No visit to Hostal de la Gavina would be complete without walking the El Camino de Ronda trail a historic footpath that traverses 45 miles of the Costa Brava. Gubert wanted his guests to enjoy the enjoy the path and delight in how his land stretched from the bay of Sant Pol to the beach of Sa Conca. He built a promenade which led directly from his hotel and traced 20 miles of coastline. The lovely esplanade skirts the sea wall providing some of the most beautiful views in the region. Along the way the hotels neighbors majestic country homes built on hillsides to take in the beauty of the Mediterranean reflect traditional Catalan architecture with towers porticos and dramatic low-roof lines. Today guests take a picnic lunch and embark on a picturesque walk the scents of pine and bougainvillea filling the air. Rocks divide the golden sand beach with its crystal emerald waters into two different coves one for swimming and the other teeming with marine life perfect for snorkeling.