VINCCI TALKS – EPISODE 14: ‘THE ART OF LIVING IN SIERRA NEVADA’

In our Vincci Talks podcast, we continue to explore the most special destinations to discover them from the inside, through those who live them, feel them and make them unique. In this new episode, we travel beyond a city to immerse ourselves in an incomparable natural environment: Sierra Nevada, the southernmost ski resort in Europe and the highest mountain range in Western Europe after the Alps. A place known since ancient times as the Mountain of the Sun, where snow, light and nature come together with innovation, sustainability and experiences for everyone.

With snow falling outside and the fireplace lit, we recorded this episode from our five-star mountain hotel, Vincci Selección Rumaykiyya 5*, a perfect refuge to enjoy winter at its very best. This is how we welcome Episode 14 of Vincci Talks: The Art of Living Sierra Nevada.

A unique mountain destination in Europe

Sierra Nevada is much more than skiing. It is landscape, character, history and future. A leading European resort that offers Olympic-level slopes for professionals, as well as friendly and accessible areas for beginners, families and those who simply want to connect with the mountains.

To discover what makes this enclave so special, we are joined by two guests who perfectly represent its essence:

• Ignacio Valenzuela, Marketing Director of Cetursa Sierra Nevada, a key figure in the resort’s national and international positioning.


• Ana Alonso, professional ski mountaineer, three-time Spanish champion, international medallist and Olympic representative at Milan–Cortina 2026, born in Granada and deeply connected to this mountain range.

Ignacio Valenzuela: innovation, sustainability and emotion

For Ignacio, Sierra Nevada is inseparable from Granada. In winter, when snow covers its peaks, the mountain becomes a dominant element of the landscape and one of the destination’s great symbols. Nature and technology coexist here to offer a complete experience: long, demanding slopes for expert skiers, perfectly adapted areas for beginners and a strong commitment to family-friendly and inclusive skiing.

Under his leadership, the resort has established itself as a European benchmark in digitalisation and sustainability, even becoming a global laboratory for new technological systems. The commitment to electrification, plastic reduction, circular economy and the use of energy from renewable sources sets the course towards a model of responsible mountain tourism committed to the future.

Ignacio also highlights those moments that do not appear in guidebooks: going up to the upper part of Veleta and, on clear days, spotting the Mediterranean Sea and the African coast, or letting yourself be surprised by sunsets that, as he says, are moving every single day, no matter how many times you see them.

And he reminds us that Sierra Nevada is about enjoyment both on and off the slopes. From spas and panoramic terraces such as those at our Vincci Selección Rumaykiyya 5*, to leisure areas designed for non-skiers, families or those looking for different activities. Here, skiing is experienced intensely, but there is also time to rest, share and celebrate.

Ana Alonso: growing, competing and dreaming in Sierra Nevada

For Ana Alonso, Sierra Nevada is not just her training ground: it is her home. Born in the nearby town of Monachil, she grew up on these slopes, learned to ski from a young age and has built a brilliant sporting career here. For her, The Art of Living Sierra Nevada means waking up, enjoying a full day of skiing in any of its disciplines, connecting with the silence of the 3,000-metre peaks and ending the day with one of the most magical sunsets in Spain.

Ana explains why this mountain range is so special: its altitude, its location in southern Europe, its light… A unique mountain that offers exceptional conditions for ski mountaineering and hides wild corners where you can feel small in the face of the vastness of the landscape.

Her emotional bond with Sierra Nevada runs deep. Here she competed in her first events, here she achieved historic titles and here she feels that everything makes sense. Ski mountaineering, the discipline she practises with passion, allows her to move freely, without lifts or groomed slopes, relying solely on her effort and her connection with nature.

In addition to sharing her experiences and this close relationship with the mountains, Ana Alonso arrives at this episode with a key milestone in her sporting career: she has been selected to represent Spain at the Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, where she will compete in the ski mountaineering discipline, which makes its official debut in the Olympic programme. She will take part in both the sprint event and the mixed relay. Her presence at the Olympic Games, which will take place from 6 to 22 February 2026, not only marks a historic moment for Spanish skiing, but also makes her one of the country’s great hopes in this new discipline.

Through her experience, Ana highlights what the mountains teach: commitment, effort, teamwork and respect. Values that are forged day by day, sharing paths, helping one another and enjoying the journey as much as the result.

Her special place to end the day is Loma de Dílar, from where she watches every afternoon as the sun sets behind the mountains. A moment that, as she herself says, never fails to move her.

The Art of Living Sierra Nevada

Sierra Nevada is sport, nature, technology, sustainability and emotion. It is a destination where everyone is welcome: professionals, beginners, families, friends and mountain lovers. A place where you ski under the sun, enjoy at a relaxed pace and live intensely.

Don’t miss Episode 14 of our Vincci Talks and discover “The Art of Living Sierra Nevada” through our YouTube and Spotify channels.

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