| Abanilla | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates: | |
| 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.
Contents |
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 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.
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 within the Abanilla municipality include the following.
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.
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 | |
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.
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.
|
|||||||