"Poor Granada!" Granada by Assenczo

Granada Travel Guide: 386 reviews and 1,152 photos

Granada is one of these magical places that have the stamina to survive time and circumstances. It was not enough to be pillaged by foreign mercenaries and official enemies. It had to endure the jealousy and rivalry of its kin. Yet here we are 2009, Granada is back into the spotlight, with a different angle plying another trade – tourism. No wonder it is well equipped to deal with it - the Cathedral and many churches, the hotels and the restaurants, the lake and the volcanoes are all components of everlasting “attractions”. Moreover, it still retains the feel of a genuine town, not over glossed by marketing and success.

The Bishop's palace

The last sentence is a key one. A traveler who’s read about all the reasons he should pay Granada a visit is on a “steep learning curve” of how and why to appreciate it. The first glimpses of the town are not flattering at all. The Ticabus is likely to have delivered you to this Promised Land. Instead, you are dropped off after you have asked in disbelieve whether this indeed is Granada; so run-down and miserable the outer streets of the old town are; then comes the shock of further exploration along the way of finding accommodation. There are islands of wealth but the sea is of poverty staring you strait in the face. Sometimes you might wonder whether you are not having a nightmare, in the shape of a skinny cow strolling down the open sewer for the freshest lettuce in town. The stench of the lake can be deduced by the character of the untreated refuse flowing openly along the streets until it reaches its final destination.

"Calzada" Street

After a day or two, there comes the moment of truth. The cold showers in the hotel seem to be a blessing instead of a nuisance; in a climate like Granada’s, not one but three of those a day are to be thoroughly enjoyed. The originally unpleasant heaps of garbage along the streets gradually turn into a patina of Centro-American character; eventually it is being cleared leaving you only the slight spicy aroma that is to stimulate you to make sense of the general picture.Gradually, the details creep into your conscience and by the time you leave it is going to be the impression of Granada the Beautiful that is going to stay with you for the rest of your life. The one and only “fixed” street accurately named “calzada” leading to the majestic Cathedral and bishop Palace, the many colonial houses restored to their full splendour and beyond as hotels, the many smaller homes converted into modern businesses or simply lucky enough to have been bought by wealthy owners are there to keep you exploring this maze of rejuvenated classics till your longing for beauty is fully satisfied.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Colonial beauty
Cons:Under layers of dirt
In a nutshell:A stay of more than 24h might change your perception radically

Last visit to Granada: Dec 2008
Intro Updated Mar 1, 2009
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Reviews (7)

The museum Things to Do (4)

The museum right beside the Convento San Francisco is a beautiful spot with instructive materials. The statues from the... more travel advice

The unfamiliar Granada Off The Beaten Path (1)

Some features are to be hidden from the potential visitors but to be totally objective one has to see "everything", even... more travel advice

Hotel shopping Things to Do (4)

Hotels in Granada are wonderful colonial buidings put into good use. When deciding which one to stay in budget seems to... more travel advice

All roads lead to Rome Things to Do (4)

One of the charms of Granada is the contrast between the dominant Cathedral and the surrounding lace of small homes.... more travel advice

Transportation (2)
See All Granada - San Salvador, a tough...

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Comments (3)

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thuyduongvn Oct 5, 2012 at 7:54 PM

love the pic of the palace
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hunterV Feb 4, 2012 at 8:04 AM

It would be great to pay a visit to Gradana some day....
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MalenaN May 23, 2009 at 11:08 PM

I visited Granada 20 years ago. And now I'm looking forward to go there again later this year. Nice photos and tips!