Monreale e Piana degli Albanesi : Bike & Cannoli

An experience in the territories of Albanian language and culture in Sicily In the province of Palermo there are 5 towns of Albanian origin and culture that boast a large community of more than 50,000 people. The word Arbëreshë defines the Albanian ethno-linguistic minority historically settled in southern and insular Italy. Coming from Albania and the many Albanian communities of Morea and Ciamuria, the communities settled in Italy between the fifteenth and the eighteenth centuries, after the death of the Albanian national hero Giorgio Castriota Scanderbeg. Also, the progressive conquest of Albania and of all the territories of the Byzantine Empire by the Turks-Ottomans, lead them to emigrate. Their culture is determined by characteristic elements, which are found in language, religion, customs, traditions, iconographic art, gastronomy, jealously preserved, because of the awareness of belonging to a specific ethnic group.