For nature lovers, both in winter and summer, Sierra Nevada is the best place to get lost and visit this mountain near Granada.
Located between the provinces of Granada and Almería, Sierra Nevada is a mountain range of the Betic mountain ranges, specifically in the Penibético system with a maximum altitude at the Mulhacén peak, of 3479 m above sea level. The Sierra Nevada ski resort is the southernmost in Europe and the highest in the Iberian Peninsula.
In 1986 it was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, in 1989 a very large area of this mountain range was declared a natural park and in 1999 a large part of it became a national park1 for its botanical, landscape and natural values.
The Natural Park has numerous lagoons, including the Laguna de Aguas Verdes and the Laguna de la Mosca, the latter so called because of its small size.
The northern side of the massif is the birthplace of many rivers, almost all of them located in the Guadalquivir basin: here rivers such as the Nacimiento (a tributary of the Andarax), the Fardes, and the Genil river, the most important of all, are born; on the western and southern sides rivers belonging to the Mediterranean slope are born, such as the Dúrcal or Ízbor river, the Trevélez, the Poqueira, tributaries of the Guadalfeo, which also rises in the mountain range, and the Adra and Andarax rivers, with their respective tributaries.
Much of the surroundings, especially above 2400 m, have been shaped by the ancient presence of glaciers, giving rise to countless high mountain lakes, especially on the southern slopes of the massif, and U-shaped valleys. In 1935, a road was opened leading to the summit of Pico Veleta. Until 1999, when the section from Hoya de la Mora to the summit was closed to traffic, it was considered the highest road in Spain and Europe.
The Sierra Nevada ski resort began when, in 1962, the Granada City Council, headed by its mayor Manuel Sola Rodríguez Bolívar, acquired the land on which its facilities and slopes would later be built. It received a favourable report from an Inter-Ministerial Commission formed for this purpose and, in May 1964, the concession for the execution of the Municipal Plan was awarded to Cetursa (Centros Turísticos S.A.). In 1966 the National Tourist Parador was inaugurated by the Minister of Information and Tourism Manuel Fraga Iribarne.
Numerous Alpine Ski World Cup events have been held at this resort, hosting the 1977 finals. The XXIV Alpine Ski World Championship was held on its slopes in 1996 and its candidacy to organise the Winter Olympic Games has been presented.
Cross-country skiing is practiced at the Puerto de La Ragua Station, located between the provinces of Granada and Almería.
In summer, there are many walking routes that can be done throughout the area, always after obtaining the corresponding permits. Among the most notable routes, the following stand out: Vereda de la Estrella, La Integral de Sierra Nevada or the Sulayr Route.
For cycling lovers, Sierra Morrena has a great attraction due to the climb to the mountain pass, through Monachil, Güéjar Sierra or El Purche, all of them being of great beauty and requiring maximum effort. The Vuelta ciclismo s España is a great event as it passes through Sierra Nevada.
It is a luxury to enjoy this mountain with your family or friends and THE SUN PLACES invites you to stay in one of its luxury apartments in Granada. We look forward to seeing you any day of the year