Piana degli Albanesi
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| Piana degli Albanesi Hora e Arbëreshëvet |
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| — Comune — | ||
| Comune of Piana degli Albanesi Bashkia e Horës së Arbëreshëvet |
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 Piana degli Albanesi
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| Coordinates: 38°0′N 13°17′E / 38.000°N 13.283°E | ||
| Country | Italy | |
| Region |  Sicily |
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| Province | Palermo (PA) | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Vito Scalia (since May 7, 2012) | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 64.89 km2 (25.05 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 740 m (2,430 ft) | |
| Population (2012) | ||
| • Total | 6,218 | |
| • Density | 96/km2 (250/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
| Postal code | 90037 | |
| Dialing code | 091 857 | |
| Patron saint | St. George, M. St. Hodegetria, St. Demetrius | |
| Saint day | 23 April, 2 September, 26 October | |
| Website | Official website | |
| Part of a series on |
| Albanians |
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| Nation |
| Albania |
| Balkan countries with substantial Albanian population |
| Diaspora |
| Subgroups |
| Albanian culture |
| Varieties of Albanian |
| Religion |
| History |
Piana degli Albanesi (Albanian: Hora e Arbëreshëvet) is a comune with 6,218 inhabitants in the Province of Palermo, Sicily.
The town is the most important and populous Arbëreshë community in Sicily and it is the episcopal see of the Byzantine Church. Situated on a mountainous plateau, which is mirrored on a large lake, and on the eastern side of the imposing Mount Pizzuta, it is 24 km from the provincial capital. The community has maintained many ethnic elements of Albanian culture like language, religious ritual, traditional costumes, music and folklore. The inhabitants are the descendants of Albanian families, including nobles and relatives of Skanderbeg, that settled in Southern Italy during the Ottoman Turkish conquest of the Balkans. The municipal government uses bilingual documents and signs in Albanian and Italian under existing Italian legislation on protecting ethnic and linguistic minorities.
History
Piana degli Albanesi was founded in the late fifteenth century by a large group of Albanian refugees coming from the Balkans during the conquest of the latter by the Ottoman Empire.[1][2] The exodus began after the defeat of the Byzantine Empire and the death of Skanderbeg, who successfully fought for the freedom of their people for more than two decades.[citation needed]
The village was founded on 30 August 1488, was asked to Cardinal Giovanni Borgia by Monreale the right to remain in the lands of Mercu and Aydingli, located in the mountains in the province of Palermo.[citation needed]
In 1482-1485, after several attacks from the Ottoman Empire, the Orthodox Christian Albanians were forced to the Adriatic coast where they hired ships from Republic of Venice and escaped by sailing managed to advance up to reach Sicily.[clarification needed] They apparently were housed in temporary camps somewhere near Palermo until about 1486 or 1487, when they were granted land know initially as the "Plain of the Archbishop", inland areas of Sicily, in the mountains above the city of Palermo. Signed the "capitulation" in Albanian and Italian, which were also recognized with followed by the Brief of Pope Sixtus IV,[3] the official concession of land was granted to the settlers in 1488, followed by the construction of the largest Albanian center of the island and, primarily, religious buildings.[citation needed]
King John II of Spain and Sicily allowed the original refugees to occupy the present place and to preserve their Orthodox religion, which was identified as Greek, so that the small town had the name of Piana dei Greci. In 1941, during the Fascist regime and after Italy attacked Greece, the name was changed to "Piana degli Albanesi".[4]
During the 19th century, the Arbëreshë of Piana degli Albanesi played a significant role for the Italian national unity, and participated in the stronger phases of the movement of Fasci Siciliani.[5] The inhabitants of Piana degli Albanesi were known to have a reputation for compared to the maximum of his country,[clarification needed] patriotic Albanians and first rebelliousness to the precarious situation of the times, but were not organized politically until the arrival of the Fascio in April 1893.[clarification needed][2]
In 1947, the regional Mafia hired the bandit Salvatore Giuliano to shoot down the annual May Day demonstration of the Pianesi, which took place in a remote mountain pass. The bandit and his gang indeed attacked them there, killing fourteen people in what came to be known as the Portella della Ginestra massacre.
After the founding of the village the inhabitants were required by papal decree to declare allegiance to the Pope and thus their faith was changed from Greek Orthodox to Byzantine Catholic, in practice their daily rituals changed little.[citation needed]
Over the centuries the inhabitants have jealously preserved their cultural roots as the Byzantine rite, language, traditions and typical women's costumes richly embroidered, and today, in the twenty-first century, is still strong attachment to the land native.[clarification needed][citation needed]
Geography
Location
Piana degli Albanesi is located 800 meters above sea level in a mountainous valley that ends at the lake Lake of Piana degli Albanesi. It is surrounded by four mountains (Pizzuta, Kumeta, Maganoce, Xeravulli), natural sites (Neviere, Cave Garrone, Honi), and the nature reserve Serre della Pizzuta. There are a number of recreational activities available in the area, such as hiking, cycling, horse riding, canoeing, and paragliding.[citation needed]
The territory is crossed by several streams and the river Belice, barred in the twenties to allow for the construction of the Lago di Piana degli Albanesi, since 1999 a natural oasis protected and safeguarded by the World Wildlife Foundation.[citation needed]
Religion
The Comune is the Episcopal see of the Italo-Albanian Catholic Church Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi for the Arbëreshë of Sicily.[6]
Main sights
The historic center of the country plays a constructive late-medieval style, reflecting the social status and economic conditions of the time when the settlement was built. The city streets are narrow and consist of steps (shkallët) and neighborhood (gjitoni), the physical space meeting place in front of the houses, with the exception of the main road (udha/dhromi i madhë), wide and straight that divides the country different sections. The joint par excellence is the Piazza Grande (Qaca e Madhe), from which wind dialogues and community relationships. The architecture and urbanism of the old town has changed in the middle of last century, thus compromising the original charm.
The churches of the town are among the most important architectural structures, the testimony of these two styles, the baroque linked to the Byzantine Empire. Of particular interest are the works of the architect and painter Pietro Novelli, very active in the colony Arbëresh.
Religious architecture
The most notable churches in the country of Piana degli Albanesi are:
- the Cathedral of Shën Mitri Dëshmor (St. Demetrius Megalomartyr), which serves as the principal church of the Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi, the church dates to 1590;
- the Church of Shën Mëria së Dhitrjës (St. Mary Odigitria), located in the village main square, was built in 1644 according to the project architect Pietro Novelli;
- the Church of Shën Gjergji Dëshmor (St. George), which is the oldest in the town dates to 1492;
- the Church of Shën Kolli (St. Nicholas), important church which houses precious icons of the seventeenth century;
- the Church of Shën Viti (St. Vito), dating back to 1514, with an imposing portal, which is of Latin rite.
- the Church of Shën Gjoni i Math (Anthony the Great), of the sixteenth century has preserved the altar to the east as well as in use in Byzantine architecture.
Easter
The town preserves unique Easter traditions, held every year according to a typical itinerary: first of all is the Divine Liturgy, where the Gospel is read in seven languages, including Arabic. After the religious ceremony, there is a procession through the main street, all the women and several men dress in traditional Arbëresh costume, the procession leads to the square after the blessing the red eggs are distributed as a sign of Christ's resurrection.
Culture
Traditional costume
The traditional female costume of Piana degli Albanesi, along with language and the Byzantine rite, is one of the most obvious signs of Arbëreshe cultural identity, and is a unique expression of local self-consciousness, which manifests itself in the desire to retain identity and traditions. From the historical point of view Piana degli Albanesi is one of the most notable Arbëresh communities in Arbëria and Sicily. There are several artistic works on the clothes of Albanians of Piana degli Albanesi, including very valuable Vuillier prints of the eighteenth century, and paintings by Ettore De Maria Bergler, partly preserved at the Art Gallery of the monumental complex of Sant'Anna in Palermo and other private prints, postcards and watercolors by unknown authors. Both the former, together with numerous additional representations portray and demonstrate the incomparability of the costume of Piana degli Albanesi.
The clothes, linked to the various moments of women's lives, from everyday life to marriage, punctuated the rhythms of social tradition of the past. Handed down from mother to daughter, and zealously preserved, they are no longer clothes, but costumes. The progressive loss of this link began in the 1940s, when after the war in Europe there was a need for more practical clothing.
The opulent and elegant clothes have preserved intact their special character, and are worn on special occasions such as baptisms, Epiphany, Easter and especially marriage, continuing to be carefully preserved by the women of Piana degli Albanesi. It costs thousands of euros to make and repair these costumes, and the majority of women use them on these occasions. An epitome of beauty is the bridal costume, which makes it particularly valuable and the religious event of the Byzantine rite. The quality of production is due to the great craftsmanship of the Arbëresh embroiderers in gold and silk wheelwork, velvet and gold (in leads, and lenticciole canatiglie). Embroidery is done using a pillow, a frame or a needle alone.
The traditional female costume of Piana degli Albanesi has been admired through time and consensus. In the competition held in Venice in 1928, in which costume groups from every region of Italy took part, the group from Piana degli Albanesi was awarded first prize, a recognition of their traditional dress as the most sumptuous, rich in design, fabrics and colors out of all the regional competitors.[3]
Language
The most obvious traces of the strong ethnic identity of Piana degli Albanesi is the Albanian language (Arbërisht). It is spoken by all, and can be seen in street names, road signs, and shop signs in the village. The Arbëreshë community has preserved its identity as much as possible. The language shares the widespread language variations seen in southern Albania, mixed at times with Greek phonetics. The language is recognized by the local government and primary schools as a minority ethno-linguistic language. Arbërisht remains the dominant language in the region. Piana degli Albanesi is officially bilingual; the official town documents are written in both Albanian and Italian. The citizens are bilingual, able to use both the Albanian and Italian languages.[7]
The Albanian language is used in radio stations (ex. Radio Hora or Radio Jona), and especially in books and periodicals (ex. Mondo Albanese, Kartularet e Biblos, Albanica, Fluturimi i aikullës, Lajmtari Arbëreshvet or Mirë ditë).
Music
The music and chants of Piana are deeply tied to religious tradition. The repertoire of sacred songs in Greek and in Albanian, used throughout the liturgical year of complex and detailed, is very wide. The weekly liturgies, festivals and other officiating are always adorned with a ceaseless flow of melody. The poetic and musical forms are dell'innografia Byzantine liturgical repertory of the museum system is modal theory and follows the Byzantine dell'oktòichos. In addition to these compositions, the prevailing source of educated, there are other evidences of a profane nature, strongly influenced, moreover, of the musical traditions of indigenous origin, it has a large number of popular songs, heritage still very much alive and thriving. The transmission of the songs is, even today, almost entirely through oral tradition. For their documentary value are significant, however, also mentioned the many testimonies pentagram on the manuscript, written, since the beginning of up to 900 times closer to us, priests and monks with the aim of safeguarding the integrity of sacred tradition. The hymns of the Byzantine tradition are performed in celebrations and concerts in the "Corale di San Demetrio" and "Coro dei Papàs di Piana degli Albanesi", while the popular songs from the folk group "Dhëndurët e Arbërit". Among the many heritage, the songs are the most common: Kostantini i vogëlith, Christòs Anèsti, Lazëri, Epi si Chieri, Vajtimet, Simeron Kremate, U të dua mirë, O Zonjë e Parrajsit, Te parkales, Një lule u deja t'isha, Kopile moj kopile, Muaji i mait, Ju lule te këtij sheshi, Trëndafili i Shkëmbit, Lule Borë, Malli çë kam për tij, Përçë ti rron, Perëndesh' e Bukuris, Kur të pash të parën herë, Për Mëmëdhenë, Shkova ka dera jote. The most emblematic songs, one religious and one secular, remain O mburonjë e Shqipëris and O e bukura More.
People from Piana degli Albanesi
- Luca Matranga (1567–1619), Greek-Orthodox rite papàs (priest), writer who gave the official start Arbëresh literature.
- Giorgio Guzzetta (1682–1756), Apostle of the Albanians, founder of the Greek-Albanian seminary and priest of Byzantine rite for the sanctity of life and apostolic works memorable.[8]
- Giorgio Stassi (1712–1801), the first bishop of Greek rite ordaining in Sicily and titular Bishop of Lampsacus.
- Francesco Parrino (1754–1831), Greek-Orthodox rite priest, writer and poet, scribe and author of an important religious manuscript in the Albanian language.
- Carlo Gliqini (1765-1850). popular poet in the Albanian language.
- Demetrio Camarda (1821–1882), Greek-orthodox rite priest, Albanian language scholar, historian and philologist.
- Giuseppe Musacchia (1837–1910), Byzantine rite priest, writer and publicist.
- Nicola Barbato (1856–1923), doctor and politician among the founders of the movement of the Fasci Siciliani Workers.[9]
- Giuseppe Schirò (1865–1925), poet, historian, linguist, publicist and Albanian patriot, most representative of the Albanian literary and cultural traditions of Sicily.
- Nilo Borgia (1870–1942), Byzantine rite monk, bibliophile, philologist, writer and theologian.
- Gaetano Petrotta (1882–1952), bishop, philologist and albanologist, Albanian Language and Literature professor at the University of Palermo.
- Sepa Petta (1882–1959), bishop and doctor of phytotherapy, teacher of faith, traditions and language of the Arbëreshë people.
- Stefano Plescia (1921), Byzantine-Greek rite priest, writer, promoter and lover of the Albanian culture.
- Sotir Ferrara (1937), bishop of the Italo-Albanian Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi.
- Giuseppe Schirò Di Maggio (1944), poet, journalist, essayist, playwright and writer, among the most influential and prolific exponents of contemporary Arbëreshë literature.
- Francesco Cuccia, Mafia boss and one-time mayor of the town.
Economy
Agriculture
One of the main local resources is made from tourism, but because of the vast areas devoted to agriculture and its climate, its economy is based primarily on the production of dairy products, cereals, olive oil, wine and fruit, and by herds of sheep, cattle and goats. The office and industrial sector is thriving, the country is precisely known for the presence of accommodation such as guesthouses and restaurants that specialize in preparing dishes of those particular goods
Artistic crafts
A prestigious tradition also belongs to art and craft. Details are Byzantine icons created by iconographers according to the ancient canons of art. Embroidered with meticulousness elegant women's costumes Arbëreshë confirmed by their almost continuous production for over five centuries, the wealth of the work. Other local artists skilled goldsmiths, especially related to the production of precious accessories of costume, the masters of the mosaic and craftsmen who work with local marble. In the tradition of embroidery in addition, there are dolls dressed in Albanian, also embroidered in gold, and with materials so-called "poor" other objects of artistic interest.
Archaeology
Within the confines of the village, in Sant'Agata (Shënt Arhta in Albanian), is situated a substantial ancient settlement called Pirama, late-Roman necropolis currently subject to archaeological research center.
Video
↑Jump back a sectionGallery
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Bilingual signs in Italian and Albanian
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Roadside shrine showing the words "Falem O Mëri" meaning "Hail Mary" in Arbërisht
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Iconostasis in St. George Megalomartyr's Church
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Women in traditional Albanian costume from Piana degli Albanesi
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Men and Women's marriage Costume
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Two women in Piana degli Albanesi in 1902
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Old Town Hall in the main square
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Bilingual signs "Shoqëri bujqësore"
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Papàs of Rite Orthodox
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Church "Shën Mitri Dhëshmor"
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Afreske bizantine
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Landscape of "Hora e Arbëreshëvet" by the "Fusha e Kollës"
See also
↑Jump back a sectionReferences
- ^ Widmer, Mary Lou; Landrieu, Moon (2006-09-01). New Orleans 1900 to 1920. Pelican Publishing. p. 104. ISBN 978-1-58980-401-2. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
- ^ a b Hobsbawm, Eric J. (1971). Primitive rebels; studies in archaic forms of social movement in the 19th and 20th centuries. Manchester University Press ND. p. 101. ISBN 978-0-7190-0493-3. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
- ^ a b Storia e cultura > Cenni storici della Comunità. www.eparchiapiana.it. Retrieved 21 April 2006.
- ^ Di Marco P., Musco A. Aspetti della cultura bizantina ed albanese in Sicilia, Officina di Studi Medievali, 2005 p. 85
- ^ The Albanians: An Ethnic History from Prehistoric Times to the Present, Edwin E. Jacques, 1994.
- ^ "Diocese of Piana degli Abanesi". Giga-Catholic Information. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
- ^ New Albanian Immigrants in the Old Albanian Diaspora: Piana Degli Albanesi. Eda Derhemi
- ^ "Cenni biografici". www.oratoriosanfilippo.org/index.html. Retrieved 10 settembre 1998.
- ^ (Italian) DE PLANAE ALBANENSIUM VIRIS ILLUSTRIBUS: Personaggi illustri, Comune di Piana degli Albanesi (Accessed October 31, 2010)
Notes
↑Jump back a sectionExternal links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Piana degli Albanesi |
- Jemi - Il portale degli Arbëreshë (Italian)
- Official site of Piana degli Albanesi (Italian)
- Liturgical portal of the Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi (Italian)
- Mirë ditë - Information magazine of cultural at Piana degli Albanesi (Italian)
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