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. 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 in Abanilla include the Old Town, the Fuente de Algarrobo, the Santuario de Mahoya, and the Iglesia Parroquial de San José. 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 , El Sagrado Corazón 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 and La casa del francés. There is a destroyed medievalenceinte in Abanilla.
Local communities
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.
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.
Politics
The mayor of Abanilla was Álvaro Gaona from 1979 to 1983, José Luís Cutillas Rivera from 1983 to 1987, Fernando Molina Parra from 1987 to 2015 and Ezequiel Alonso Gaona from 2015.
Demographics
The population of Abanilla is 6,510 as of 2011.
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 qualityoil pressed in local mills in the ancient custom.
Festivals
The 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.
