Sierra Nevada travel guide

The Sierra Nevada, which translates into English more prosaically as Snowy Mountains, is the memorable backdrop to Granada’s Alhambra: if you’re lucky with the visibility, that is. Hardy climbers used to ascend the Camino de la Nieve (Route of the Snow) to bring back fresh ice for the Moorish rulers’ cocktails, but now streams of cars with skis aboard make the journey up a smoothly contoured road. The range boasts mainland Spain’s highest peak and Europe’s southernmost ski resort; out of season, the region offers excellent walking opportunities and a chance to bag a few major summits without any Alpine training. The upper section is a parque nacional, while the lower reaches are parque natural, with lesser degrees of protection. The bleak and rugged peaks are an incredible contrast to much of the scenery of Andalucía and deserve a visit, whatever the season.