Ava Gardner in Chile: Hollywood’s Best-Kept Secret in the Andes

During Hollywood’s Golden Age, Ava Gardner was the embodiment of glamour, passion, and mystery. The star of Mogambo (1953) and The Barefoot Contessa (1954) captivated audiences with her beauty and talent, but behind the dazzling lights, she lived an intense life marked by legendary romances—most notably her tumultuous relationship with Frank Sinatra—and a constant search for freedom.

But there’s a little-known chapter in her story: her mysterious visit to Chile. It is said that sometime in the 1950s, Gardner sought refuge far from the relentless paparazzi and Hollywood pressures. Her final destination: a secluded retreat in the Andes Mountains, the Chalet de Piedra in Cajón del Maipo.

A Connection Forged in New York

Years before her visit to Chile, Ava Gardner had crossed paths with Darío Sainte-Marie, an influential journalist and the director of El Clarín, during his time in New York in the 1930s. Sainte-Marie was a sharp-witted intellectual who navigated effortlessly between writers, politicians, and entertainment figures. Back then, when Gardner was still an aspiring actress, they met at bohemian gatherings, engaging in long conversations about art, cinema, and freedom.

Decades later, as fame became suffocating and she longed for an escape, Gardner remembered her old friend and the sanctuary he once described in Chile—a centuries-old stone house, surrounded by fruit trees, with breathtaking views of the Andes. A hidden retreat where she could disappear from the world.

Ava Gardner and the Enchantment of Chalet de Piedra

One fateful evening, Ava Gardner was welcomed at Chalet de Piedra, a place that had already hosted presidents, artists, and intellectuals. There, by the warmth of a crackling fireplace and over glasses of fine wine, she shared her deepest thoughts with Sainte-Marie—about Sinatra, her Hollywood days, and her never-ending desire to escape.

It is said that she wandered through the gardens, lost herself among ancient trees, and found peace in the silence of the mountains. For a few precious days, Ava Gardner was not a Hollywood icon—she was simply a woman seeking solace in a forgotten corner of the world.

A Sanctuary of History, Exclusivity, and Timeless Magic

Today, Chalet de Piedra remains a private retreat for those in search of disconnection, history, and a journey back in time. Its walls, which once echoed with the voices of presidents, writers, and movie legends, continue to tell stories of an era long past.

If you are a lover of classic cinema, historical destinations, and Hollywood’s hidden secrets, this is the place where you can walk in Ava Gardner’s footsteps and immerse yourself in a truly unique atmosphere in the Andes.