Sierra Nevada natural park in Granada, the province which displays some of the biggets contrasts in Andalucia, offers mountain ranges of particular beauty. The mythical Alpujarras and extensive area which includes parts of the provinces of Granada and Almería, and its neighbour to the north the geologically young Sierra Nevada are good examples of this beauty. It only takes an hour and a half on the comfortable motorways to go from the year-round snow in the mountains to the warm Tropical Coast.
Las Alpujarras, the last Moorish refuge and formely one of the least discovered areas for tourism is today well known in all its beauty; the white villages perched on the sides of the mountains with their typical terraced architecture; houses with tall chimneys;grapevines; and inside where legs of ham are cured and pork is dried and the shadowy countryside with its backdrop of snow.
The villages are peaceful, from Lanjarón, the regional port with its famous spa, to the well-known Capileira and Trevélez, the highest villages in Spain. Nor must we forget the lovely areas in the part belonging to Almeria such as Laujar and Ohanes which are rich in edible grapes.
The Sierra Nevada mountain range, which boasts the highest peak on the Iberian peninsula, is today the great winter resort of southern Europe. This extensive Natural Park is also home to flora and fauna which is rich in endemic species and some unusual, highmountain landscapes.
The Pradollano area, the winter tourist complex which is becoming increasingly popular, is comprised of 2.500 hectares suitable for skiing and some excellent facilities which are in continual expansion: 36 slopes and half a dozen off-piste routes, 2 cable-cars, 10 chair-lifts, 7 ski-lifts and other facilities.
