Santa Caterina Albanese
Welcome to Santa Caterina Albanese, the Albanian municipality in the province of Cosenza
If you are looking for a place that has the typical beauty of Calabria but at the same time keeps alive Albanian customs and traditions, then Santa Caterina Albanese is the right place for you. With its 1184 inhabitants, this municipality located at 472 meters above sea level will enchant you with its millenary history and natural beauty.
Discover the physical geography of Santa Caterina Albanese
Santa Caterina Albanese is located on the north-eastern slopes of the Coastal Chain, north-west of the city of Cosenza. The center is located on the slope of a hill between the valleys of the Esaro and the Ricosoli stream. The municipality also includes some flat lands downstream, occupied by an urban center called Contrada Pianette.
The history of Santa Caterina Albanese
Santa Caterina Albanese is an Albanian colony dating back to the 15th century. The inhabitants of this city are Albanian exiles who had to leave their homeland due to the invasion of the Ottoman Empire. The first Albanian settlers settled in the Prato district, near the former Cistercian abbey of Santa Maria la Matina. On the site where the current village is located stood an uninhabited farmhouse called ''Piesileum'' which, over time, was albanized and renamed ''Picilia''.
Over the centuries, the Albanian settlement was enlarged by refugees from Morea, when it too fell into the hands of the Turks. In 1578 the entire territory was delivered to the Bruno family, later passing to the Hortado and finally to the Sanseverino di Saponara who kept it until the abolition of feudalism in 1806.
After many socio-political and cultural vicissitudes, the village regained its autonomy in 1934, after being aggregated to Fagnano Castello since 1928. Among its most illustrious sons, we remember Papàs Francesco Antonio Santori (1819 – 1894), priest, poet and writer, author of the first drama of modern Albanian literature.
Monuments and places of interest in Santa Caterina Albanese
Santa Caterina Albanese is a place rich in architectural and cultural treasures. The mother church, dedicated to San Nicola Magno in Baroque style, stands in the northern part of the village. The chapel of the Martyr of Nicomedia, built around 1600, is located along the San Pantaleone road that starts from the town center.
Discover the society of Santa Caterina Albanese
According to ISTAT data as of December 31, 2009, the foreign population residing in the municipality was 56 people, with the most represented nationality being Morocco (3.32%).
Traditions and folklore of Santa Caterina Albanese
The feast of the patron saint of Santa Caterina Albanese, San Pantaleone, is celebrated on July 27 with great participation of all citizens. During the Carnival period, the "vala" (ridda) is evoked. On August 15, the day of Ferragosto, the Assumption of Mary is celebrated in Contrada Pianette, where a procession takes place along the ring road. In the afternoon, there is a small fair and in the evening the parish courtyard of Pianette becomes the meeting place for citizens to attend a musical show.
If you are looking for a charming place where you can enjoy the beauty of Calabria and Albanian culture, Santa Caterina Albanese is the ideal destination for you. Discover its history, admire its monuments and participate in its festivities for an unforgettable experience.
