So far this winter it's been seriously snowing in the Sierra Nevada and while southern Spain may not be the first place that springs to mind for property buyers looking for a location near to a ski resort there are lots of reasons to take a good look.  The Pradollano resort near Granada is Europe's most southerly skiing area, with sunshine almost guaranteed, and while quite a few places boast of 'ski in the morning and swim in the afternoon' Andalucia is probably the only one where, when you get to the beach 50 minutes away, it will be warm enough to strip off and sunbathe.  And just half an hour away from the slopes is Granada and the Alhambra.

The altitude of the resort, base level 2100 metres, top station 3300 metres, gives it one of the longest ski seasons in Europe, usually open in mid-November and continuing well into April, even May.  Investment before and since the World Champtionships in 1996 means the resort now has some of the most extensive and advanced snow making equipement anywhere.  With the cold air temperatures at this altitude the cannons can be used whenever needed and skiing is guaranteed even after lengthly periods of no snow fall.  The ski conditions so far in 2009 are reckoned to be the best in a decade with snow depths ranging from 60cms - 350cms.

If you get the location right it is possible to be within one hour of the slopes and also enjoy the mildest winter temperatures in Europe.  Get the location wrong and what seems perfect in the summer, which is when a lot of people buy, and daytime temperatures will hover around 0 - 5C, going as low as -10C at night.