Abanilla

For the wine designation, see Abanilla (Vino de la Tierra).

Coordinates: 38°12′N 1°03′W / 38.200°N 1.050°W / 38.200; -1.050

Abanilla
Coordinates: 38°12′N 1°3′W / 38.200°N 1.050°W / 38.200; -1.050
Country Spain
Province Murcia
Comarca Comarca Oriental
Government
 • Mayor Ezequiel Alonso Gaona (PSOE)
Area
 • Total 236.6 km2 (91.4 sq mi)
Elevation 201 m (659 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 6,510
 • Density 26.48/km2 (68.6/sq mi)
Post code 30640 (Abanilla Town), 30648 (Barinas)
Area code(s) 968 and 868
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.

Paleontological Significance

A karstic paleontological site is located on the southeast slope of the Sierra de Quibas in an abandoned limestone quarry. Researchers have discovered vertebrate and invertebrate fossils at this site.[1] They collected rodent fossils and used dental patterns to identify these to be of the Muroidea subfamily Arvicolinae. Using stratigraphic and sedimentological features in the limestone, the scientists were able to date these fossils to the Early Pleistocene subepoch.

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' Sacred Heart

Politics

The mayor of Abanilla was Álvaro Gaona (Partido Independiente) from 1979 to 1983, José Luís Cutillas Rivera (Partido Socialista Obrero Español) from 1983 to 1987, Fernando Molina Parra (Partido Popular) from 1987 to 2015 and Ezequiel Alonso Gaona (Partido Socialista Obrero Español) from 2015.

Demographics

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

The population of Abanilla is 6,510 as of 2011.[2]

Demographic evolution in 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.

References

  1. ↑ Piñero P, Agusti J, Blain H; et al. (2015). "Biochronological data for the Early Pleistocene site of Quibas (SE Spain) inferred from rodent assemblage". Geologica Acta. 13 (3). doi:10.1344/GeologicaActa2015.13.3.5.
  2. ↑ "Censos de Población y Viviendas 2011. Resultados Municipales. Población por municipios, sexo y edad". Instituto Nacional de Estadistica. Sistema estadístico europeo.

External links

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