Älskade Spion 1977

The Spy Who Loved Me 1977

The Spy Who Loved Me location: Cala De Volpe, Sardinia

Photograph: flickr / paul_si

Before heading off to Stromberg’s underwater hideout, Bond and Amasova stay at the huge Hotel Cala di Volpe, Costa Smeralda, perched, like a faux-Mediterranean village, atop the cliffs on the north coast of Sardinia. Sadly, you can’t check into Bond’s room – this was actually the hotel’s Piano Bar.

The second-largest island in the Mediterranean (after Sicily), Sardinia is part of Italy, and has three international airports. Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport, the second largest, is about two miles away from the city centre of Olbia.

The road chase is on a stretch of coast road at Vista Point, on the SP94 about a mile south of the hotel, and on the small piazza of San Pantaleone, to the southwest. Bond’s submersible Lotus Esprit finally comes ashore on the beach at Romazzina, on the coast east of the Cala di Volpe.

https://www.onthetracksof007.com/caladivolpe

One of its more recent visitors was James Bond, who came here accompanied by Soviet agent Triple-X Anya Amasova in The Spy Who Loved Me (TSWLM) in 1977. In the plot of this film their mission is to investigate the arch villain Karl Stromberg’s headquarters Atlantis, a huge amphibian structure located off the coast of Sardinia. After leaving Egypt and fighting Stromberg’s gigantic henchman Jaws in a fierce train fight, the couple arrives at the little port-town of Palau at the northern tip of Sardinia. From here regular ferry services operate to Genova and Naples on the Italian mainland as well as to the nearby island of La Maddalena. A rock shaped like a big bear (Capa d’Orso) is the only modest tourist attraction Palau has to offer. Bond and Anya drive along the coastal road in an open carriage backdropped by the beautiful Isola Santo Stefano. On reaching Palau’s jetty they observe Q driving the white Lotus Esprit sports car from a ferry, which lies at the outermost left moorings. He parks the car beside a sort of lamp-post and then the usual banter between 007 and his gadget master ensues. Bond’s reckless handling of the precious vehicle is obviously a “kick in the teeth“ for Q. All of Bond’s following adventures take place at the Costa Smeralda, a region in the northeast of Sardinia that defies easy description. A wonderful, untouched area, without any roads, electricity, water or telephones: that was how Costa Smeralda appeared at the beginning of the sixties.

Most parts of the following wild car chase were filmed on the country roads around San Pantaleo, the National Road n. 125 and the Panoramica Cugnana SP 94 along the Costa Smeralda. The most outstanding spot of the hot pursuit is the piece of concrete wall, where the chopper pops up and which is circled twice by the Lotus later in the race. To get to this location you have to drive south from Cala di Volpe on the coastal road. After one odd mile you will notice a blue signpost with the inscription “per bivio S. PANTALEO km 6“ on the left side of the road. Directly behind that is the piece of wall which divides a little parking lot and a view point from the pavement. From here you have a marvellous vista over the shore. In the peak season try to be there before 10 am, because later it gets very crowded.

SARDINIA – Hotel Cala di Volpe // The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

Take a sip at your martini and watch the yachts come back from their day cruise. Later on, pamper yourself at one of Sardinias finest restaurants. Welcome: Your at a true Bond hotel!

Why Bond was here
James Bond (Roger Moore) and his Russian counterpart Triple X (Barbara Bach) head from Egypt to Sardinia on the trails of Karl Stromberg (Kurt Jürgens). The villain had stolen nuclear submarines and is about to threaten the world with launching the nukes. The agents try to get close to Stromberg, but in style – they check in at the luxury hotel Cala di Volpe.

Bonds hotel suite at the Cala die Volpe

Good to know
The suite Bond stays in is not a real suite – but the Bar Pontile. The charming evening lounge was turned into a hotel room in the movie. So filming took place in both the hotel lobby and Bar Pontile.
It is located directly off the pier at the left side of the bay. The bar is decorated with Mediterranean armchairs and carpets, a unique white fireplace dominates the room. Opening hours are in the evening, but if you ask the staff, they will probably unlook the Bond suite“ for you earlier.

Roger Moore as James Bond  Barbara Bach as Anya Amasova

Since the Cala di Volpe is a luxury hotel make sure to suit up. In the high season playboys and Bond girls roam the pier and show off their yachts. But you don’t have to stay there or eat at the restaurant, to take a glimpse – a drink at the bar is totally fine. If you want a more local and cheaper food option afterwards, try the quaint pizzeria at San Pantaleo – here is how to get there!