San Paolo Albanese
Who are the Italo-Albanians
The Italo-Albanians are a linguistic minority present in Southern and Insular Italy, composed of Albanians from the Principality of Albania, the Albanian region of Epirus, and the Arvaniti of Attica and Morea. They settled in Italy between the 15th and 18th centuries, and still retain their culture, customs, and traditions.
The Italo-Albanian Catholic Church
The Italo-Albanians constitute the Italo-Albanian Catholic Church, a sui iuris Church of Eastern Rite Catholic Churches, composed of three ecclesiastical circumscriptions. The language of the Italo-Albanians is Arbëreshë, which derives from Tosk Albanian, and has been recognized and protected in Italy.
The preservation of their identity
Most Italo-Albanians still preserve their original Byzantine rite, thus maintaining their ethnic identity and belonging. The clergy and its institutions have been the strongest guardians of this identity.
The Arbëreshë language
The language spoken by the Italo-Albanians is Arbëreshë, which derives from Tosk Albanian. Thanks to Law 482/1999, Albanian is one of the recognized and protected languages in Italy.
Number of Italo-Albanians in Italy
It is estimated that there are around 100,000 Italo-Albanians and they constitute one of the largest historic linguistic minorities in Italy. They use the term "Arbëria" to define their scattered nation.
Candidacy of the Italo-Albanian rituals and culture
Since 2020, the culture and rituals of the Albanian population of Italy have been formally nominated, under the title "Moti i Madh" (The Great Time), for the list of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, formalized in collaboration and shared by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania through the Ministry of Culture (Albania).
In summary, Italo-Albanians are a linguistic minority in Southern and Insular Italy, composed of Albanians who settled in Italy between the 15th and 18th centuries. They retain their culture, customs, and traditions, maintaining their ethnic identity through the Byzantine rite and ecclesiastical institutions. The Arbëreshë language has been recognized in Italy, and Italo-Albanians identify as "Arbëria." Finally, the culture and rituals of the Italo-Albanians are nominated for the list of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
