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Arbëresh in Sicily turn their eyes to Albania for the development of cultural tourism

2026-11-08 22:26:52Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA GëZIM KABASHI
Arbëresh in Sicily turn their eyes to Albania for the development of
Palazzo Adriano, a town populated by Arbëresh people. Known as one of the filming locations of the film “Cinema Paradiso”

In the ancient square of Piana degli Albanesi in Sicily, Nicola Petta serves in his "Extrabar" cafe also against Albanian lek, while Albanian products are also advertised on the counter.

His business receives more visitors from Kosovo, but with the establishment of a direct Tirana-Palermo and return line, those from Albania have also begun to increase.

“Most of the tourists so far are Kosovars, and we hope to increase the number of those coming from Albania,” says Nicola, adding that visitors are surprised by the Arbëresh language that they continue to speak.

“However, the 200 visitors who arrived a few days ago are a good start,” he stressed.

The town of Piana degli Albanesi, otherwise known as "Hora e Arbëreshëve", was founded 538 years ago by a group of Albanian refugees who fled the Balkans due to the Ottoman occupation.

The direct airline is part of the project to promote tourism to municipalities with an Arbëresh majority, which also aims to extend to other Arbëresh centers in Calabria, Puglia or Basilicata.

Albanian tourists stay in the guesthouses set up in Piana for no more than two days, as they also dedicate time to visiting Palermo.

Veli Berisha, a 42-year-old engineer who lives and works in Bern, says that the “Hora e Skanderbeg” association in Switzerland is supporting the development of tourism in Arbëresh communes in Sicily.

“Teaching the Albanian language in schools is one of these goals, as it will certainly strengthen ties with the motherland,” Veliu said. Just a month ago, at the “Tri Net Fest” festival held in Switzerland, the film “Primo Sangue” by Arbëresh director Antonio La Camera was declared the best film.

Giorgio Cuccia, one of the tourism activists in Piana, told BIRN that visitors are quite interested in seeing the town's churches, especially those dedicated to Saint George and Saint Mitre.

Efforts to put the Tirana-Palermo line into operation began almost 10 years ago with the contribution of Albanians in Sicily, such as Vincenzo Lombardo.

Lombardo, president of Legambiente in Palermo, told BIRN that this vector is the first for the Tirana-Palermo destination. He adds that cooperation between Albanians who settled on the island after the 1990s with the Arbëresh is extremely important, so that the future of tourism does not fade.

According to Vincenzo Lombardo, the natural advantages of the five Arbëresh municipalities near Palermo create opportunities for joint celebrations, according to the characteristics of each of them.

Lorenzo Lonoce, councilor of the municipality of San Marzano in Puglia, told BIRN that cooperation between Arbëresh municipalities wherever they are located and the realization of joint projects becomes very important for the future.

Arbëresh in Sicily turn their eyes to Albania for the development of
At Piana degli Albanesi, visitors pose in front of the bust of Skanderbeg

According to Lonoce, on November 9 in San Marzano, the president of Italy, Mattarella, and the president of Albania, Begaj, will also meet with leaders of Arbëresh municipalities, where a joint program for the future of the community is expected.

Lonoce added that the municipalities of San Marzano and Piana have already signed a twinning agreement, "based on the historical presence of the Arbëresh in Italy and the language and culture of the communities that unite them."

"Out of 50 Arbëresh settlements, more than 35 of them are municipalities, which could have a joint state-funded program for tourism," said Lonoce, adding that so far Arbëresh municipalities have only focused on some self-promotion of the peculiarities of each one.

In the municipality of Piana, near Palermo, there is a very good tradition with costumes, embroidery, and the Easter celebration, in which Albanian artists have also participated.

"We, the Albanians of Switzerland, will also join us on Easter Day, together with our families. We have long agreed to meet in Piana degli Albanesi, where a beautiful celebration is sure to await us," said Berisha from Bern./ BIRN


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