Location

Locals joke that Granada is the one place where you can ski on snow-capped peaks in the morning and soak up the rays on the beach in the afternoon- and they're right! Granada is nestled in the foothills of the incredible Sierra Nevada mountain range and just a 45 minute drive from tranquil waters and sandy stretches of the Mediterranean Sea's Costa Tropical (Tropical Coast).

Climate

In true Andalucían fashion, summers in Granada are hot and dry with plenty of sunshine. Come wintertime, days tend to be sunny but cool- if the wind is coming off the Sierra Nevada mountains, it can seem down-right frigid!

Culture

A brimming cultural center since its early days under Moorish rule, Granada is celebrated for its multi-faceted cultural scene in which fantastic museums, stunning architecture, feisty flamenco shows and incredible festival celebrations all play magnificent roles.

History

Granada, a dazzling Moorish city since 711, stood strong against the Reconquista of Spain's ambitious Catholic Monarchs - Fernando and Isabel - for nearly eight centuries. Following the crippling defeats of the neighboring Moorish cities of Seville and Córdoba, the Nasrid emirate ruled - operating out of the dazzling Alhambra palace - its ever-diminishing Moorish empire for its final 250 years. In 1491, Fernando and Isabel finally managed to infiltrate the formerly impenetrable city and, in 1492, conquered Granada: the final Moorish stronghold on their to-do list.

Architecture

With exuberant Moorish palaces, immense Gothic churches, Renaissance mansions and the region's quaint, white-washed houses, Granada holds architectural treasures around every corner and down every winding streets.

Traditions

Granada, located in the southern region of Andalucía, maintains the typical Spanish traditions of popular imagination. Along with passioante flamenco shows in the former gypsy neighborhood and tradition-laden bullfights, Granada is one of the few cities where you can still get free tapas with each drink you order!