Grenada - Useful information for your trip

Grenada, together with the southern Grenadines, forms an island country located in the Caribbean Sea.

Grenada was discovered in 1498 by Cristopher Columbus. In 1651, the French arrived from Martinique defeated the local indigenous, taking control over of the island. The new French colony was renamed "Le Grenade" and became one of the main centers for the exportation of sugar. Afterwards, in 1783, the island was signed over to the English and only on 17 september 1974, thanks to sir Eric Matthew Gairy, who became first minister of Grenada, could the island declare its independence from the United Kingdom.

The weather of these islands is warm and humid during the whole year, and it is characterized by abundant precipitations. Moreover, from June to November the formation of tropical storms, that can degenerate and become hurricanes, is very likely..

These islands have a volcanic origin, this is why they boast a fertile ground, which makes them suitable for agricoltural production. Grenada is also known as The Spice Isle, because it is devoted to the production of a wide range of spices, such as cinnamon, cloves, ginger and nutmeg. The latter is so important for the country that it is also represented on the national flag.

Nowadays, one of the main developed economical sectors, beyond agricolture, is tourism. Visitors are attracted by the natural beauties of the island, the Caribbean beaches and the crystal-clear sea, where it is possible to practice every kinds of water sports. Anyway, Grenada also offers important and significant attractions of cultural and artistical interest connected to its ancient history. The capital city, St. George's, is one of the most beautiful cities in the Caribbean. It encloses the memories of the colonial period, such as old buildings and majestic forts, like the Old Fort. Interesting is also the city of Victoria, where it seems that the time has stopped at the last century.