Abanilla

Coordinates: 38°12′N 1°03′W / 38.2°N 1.05°W / 38.2; -1.05

Abanilla
Coordinates: 38°12′N 1°3′W / 38.2°N 1.05°W / 38.2; -1.05
Country	Spain
Province	Murcia
Comarca	Comarca Oriental
Government
– Mayor	Fernando Molina Parra (Partido Popular)
Area
– Total	236.6 km2 (91.4 sq mi)
Elevation	201 m (659 ft)
Population (2008)
– Total	6,642
– Density	26.48/km2 (68.6/sq mi)
Post code	30640 (Abanilla Town), 30648 (Barinas)
Area code(s)	968 and 868
Twin Cities
– Villeurbanne	(France)
Website	www.abanilla.es

Abanilla is a Spanish municipality located in the Comarca Oriental (composed by Fortuna and Abanilla) in the Autonomous Community of Murcia. It lies close to the border of the province of Alicante in the Autonomous Community of Valencia.

Geography

Abanilla occupies a surface area of 236.6 km² and is situated 222 metres above sea level. It lies on a natural foundation which has been degraded by a number of aggregate and marble quarries.

The remarkable Quibas paleontological site lies within the limits of the municipality.

Points of interest

Points of interest in Abanilla include the Old Town (containing the monument to the Corazón de Jesús), the Fuente de Algarrobo (Fountain of the Carob Tree), the Santuario de Mahoya (Sanctuary of Mahoya), and the Iglesia Parroquial de San José (Parochial Church of St. Joseph). Other sights worth visiting include the source of the River Chícamo and the mountains of Abanilla and Quibas.

Monuments

Buildings of monumental significance in Abanilla include the La Iglesia de San José (the Church of San José) (18th century), El Sagrado Corazón (Sacred Heart) in Abanilla Town and Barinas, La Casa de la Encomienda, La Casa Cabrera, La Casa Pintada, El Monumento a las Fiestas de Moros y Cristianos (the Monument to the Festivals of the Moors and Christians) and La casa del francés (the French's house).

There is a destroyed medieval enceinte in Abanilla.

Local communities

An abandoned quarry in Barinas

Local communities within the Abanilla municipality include the following.

• Barinas, a rural town located 11 km from Abanilla town, at an elevation of 379 m.
• Macisvenda, located 10 km from Abanilla town, a crossroads of the roads to La Algueña, El Cantón, Hondón de los Frailes and Hondón de las Nieves.
• Other communities include Mahoya, El Cantón, Cañada de la Leña, El Partidor, El Tollé, Los Baños de Fortuna, Casa Cabrera, Casa Pintada, Los Carrillos, La Umbría, Collado de los Gabrieles, Ricabacica, El Algarrobo, Campules, Balonga, Mafraque and El Olivar.

Barinas´ Sacred Heart

Politics

The mayor of Abanilla was Álvaro Gaona (Partido Independiente) from 1979 to 1983 and José Luís Cutillas Rivera (Partido Socialista Obrero Español) from 1983 to 1987. The last five terms (1987–1991, 1991–1995, 1995–1999, 1999–2003 and 2003–2007) have been presided by Fernando Molina Parra of the Partido Popular.

Demographics

Population levels from 1900-2005 in comparison with the comarca as a whole

The population of Abanilla is 6,256 (INE, 2005), with a population density of 26.48 persons/km².

Evolución demográfica en Abanilla 1857-2008
1857	1860	1877	1887	1897	1900	1910	1920	1930	1940	1950	1960
4.324	4.650	5.689	5.617	6.121	6.634	7.451	7.641	8.179	8.220	8.620	8.594
1970	1981	1991	1996	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
8.675	7.049	5.827	6.130	6.033	6.040	6.239	6.145	6.245	6.333	6.568	6.642

Culture

Gastronomy

Typical local dishes include home-made sausages, paella with rabbit and snails, gachasmigas. In particular, desserts include fruit from the fertile orchards, such as the region's renowned Damascus apricots. Traditional confectionery includes doughnuts, sweetbreads, muffins and typical Christmas sweets. All this is enhanced by the high quality oil pressed in local mills in the ancient custom.

Festivals

The International Folklore Festival is an important event which takes place in the first week of August. Between 23 April and 9 May, the festivals of Santa Cruz take place, featuring parades of Moors and Christians. In addition, from June through to the middle of September, the various communities celebrate their own individual festivals.

External links

• Official website of Abanilla
• Discussion forum for Abanilla
• Unofficial website for Abanilla
• Information on Abanilla
• International Folklore Festival in Abanilla
• Knights and Damsels of Calatrava
• Association of the Knights and Damels of Cid in the Town of Abanilla
• Cabila Al'Bayada
• Viva Murcia Photos & Information for the Murcia Province
• News and Information about Abanilla