ARTICLE #28 - 18 FEBUARY, 2018
Sierra Nevada, the Mountains of the Sun
For some of you, the idea of starting a new year with no snow on your porch may seem as unthinkable as it is for others to conceive the idea of a white and snowy Costa del Sol.
The Sierra Nevada, which in Spanish means “snowy ranges”, is one of the most visited ski resorts in Spain and Europe. Not only that. The Sierra Nevada is one of the largest protected areas in Andalusia and has been considered a natural beauty spot since the time of the Moors. Although it is known as a skiing resort, to the Moors, it was known as the Mountains of the Sun.
Above 2,000 metres, the mountains are covered in snow for a great part of the year.
Therefore, the traditional feeling of a white Christmas and of welcoming the New Year with snow covering vast areas is a phenomenon that is repeated every single year.
For some of you, the idea of starting a new year with no snow on your porch may seem as unthinkable as it is for others to conceive the idea of a white and snowy Costa del Sol.
The Sierra Nevada, which in Spanish means “snowy ranges”, is one of the most visited ski resorts in Spain and Europe. Not only that. The Sierra Nevada is one of the largest protected areas in Andalusia and has been considered a natural beauty spot since the time of the Moors. Although it is known as a skiing resort, to the Moors, it was known as the Mountains of the Sun.
Above 2,000 metres, the mountains are covered in snow for a great part of the year.
Therefore, the traditional feeling of a white Christmas and of welcoming the New Year with snow covering vast areas is a phenomenon that is repeated every single year.
The Sierra Nevada range extends up to about 80km from west to east. After the Alps, it is the second highest massif in Western Europe. There are more than twenty peaks over 3,000 metres in altitude, the highest of which, at 3,481 metres, is Mulhacen.
Being the highest point in mainland Spain, the skiing season in the Sierra Nevada can last from November up until early May. Particularly towards the end of the season, visitors can experience magnificent sunny days whilst skiing.
Last year, the winter season in the Sierra Nevada is said to have lasted 146 days. In total, it turned around 34 million Euros and it hosted over 1.15 million visitors; 995,000 of which were skiers and snowboarders.
While on average, the revenue each year for the last decade has been increasing by 15%, last season was closed with two additional points, going up to 17%.
A study by the University of Granada has shown that, for the last decade, Granada has contributed 400 million Euros to the economy of Spain and has created 8,500 jobs related to skiing. This, once again proves that the Sierra Nevada is definitely on the right track.
The resort offers winter sports lovers everything they need: highly equipped skiing lifts, beginner and advanced skiing classes, medical services, and also, if the weather conditions allow, the possibility of skiing at night.
For many, it is also an opportunity to visit yet another attractive and diverse place in Spain, and perhaps see the country from a wider perspective. The Sierra Nevada National Park has a rich habitat that ranges through exposed rocky summits, deep gorges, fast rivers and about fifty glacial lakes; the highest one at 3,146 metres is Laguna de Altera although the last of the glaciers melted at the end of the 20th century.
One of the attractions of living or visiting the coast of Spain during the winter is the possibility of combining sunbathing and skiing, both in one weekend, or even one afternoon (!)
Air balloon rides over Granada or helicopter rides over La Alhambra, ski-in/ski-out privileges and outdoor heated pool facilities are available when visiting one of the Marbella Club Group hotels, El Lodge located on the snowy slopes of Sierra Nevada.
Be one step closer to the life that brings together an abundance of activities, adventure and great family fun to keep you outdoors all winter long.
