Hotel La Gran Francia: a gem of colonial architecture

This summer I had the pleasure of visiting the colorful city of Granada in Nicaragua (read article here) and staying one night at Hotel La Gran Francia.

Proclaimed Historic Heritage of the City of Granada, La Gran Francia is a jewel of Colonial Architecture of Nicaragua. It is a large and old house situated in the center of the city, a few steps from the cathedral.

According to historians, the original building was small and modest compared to the present one and the existence of this architectural gem went back to the founding of the city in 1524. Despite the almost total destruction of the city in 1856 and the fire suffered, the house survived and was first restored and expanded in 1865, retaining its original style.

After years of total abandonment, La Gran Francia was restored in the 1990s, respecting the original architecture and bringing back to light the ancient colonial beauty of the original home.