Escape the hustle and bustle of city life – explore beautiful reefs and ruined galleons, or laze about on La Herradura’s unusual black sandy beaches.

On Granada’s Costa Tropical, you will find La Herradura, a whitewashed town overlooked by the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Situated at the eastern end of a striking bay, this quintessential Andalusian town offers some very dramatic scenery. Cast your eyes towards the bay, where waters the colour of oxidised copper lap at black sand; glance skywards to discover the velvety black folds of the Sierra Nevada, rising majestically above the horizon like a sleeping giant.

This area possesses one of the most beautiful bays in southern Spain, so it’s not surprising to discover it’s a favourite of residents of Granada, who retreat here in the summer to escape the city. To the rest of the world, however, this stretch of coast is still relatively obscure – great news, if you are looking to buy here.

Head to the beautiful palm-lined promenade, where you can admire the full-scope of the scenery, including two promontories, which extend outwards like a pair of arms welcoming the Mediterranean Sea into the bay. Almost half a millennia ago, the bay beckoned 25 Spanish naval galleons to their ultimate ruin, and their remains can still be found in its beds. As a result, the area has become a hot spot for scuba-divers, who flock from all over the world to explore the reefs and the wreckage.