Granada is a beautiful Spanish colonial-era city whose historical and architectural heritage has been richly conserved. Founded in 1524, it is the oldest European-founded city in the Americas. The lakeside town served as a key port and trade center for Spanish riches due to its boat access to the Caribbean Sea via Lake Nicaragua and the contingent San Juan River. It also became a target for pirates and buccaneers who repeatedly laid siege to the city and plundered its goods.
Today Granada is a tranquil town of about 100,000 that holds onto its colonial-era spirit. Granada’s nickname is “La Gran Sultana” – The Great Sultaness – an apt moniker considering the city’s languid and decadent charm. The city is renowned for Spanish-style homes with adobe walls and towering wooden doors leading to their open-air interior patios. A recent influx of investment has brought an array of delicious dining options, from freshwater fish plucked fresh from the lake to exquisite French and Mediterranean cuisine.
Granada is blessed to be surrounded by two of the most beautiful geographic features in the world: a collapsed volcano that now hosts a crystal clear lagoon, an enormous and magnificent freshwater lake, and a volcano that hosts a cloud forest and sired 360 islands in the lake. These islands are easily accessible from Granada’s shoreline and provide a perfect setting for watching the sunset after a day of exploring the town’s cobbled roads.
Needless to say, if you’re looking for anything from a bike adventure to a relaxing spa day to a dance floor with salsa aficionados, Granada never fails to offer just what you’re looking for.