ASAL Student in Calabria for the Albanian Easter Celebration

On 19 April 2015, ASAL Student, in cooperation with the Parish of Saint Nicholas of Myra in Lecce, organised a cultural excursion to Calabria on the occasion of the Albanian Easter Celebration, with visits to Civita and Frascineto, two important Arbëresh communities.

The initiative was created to introduce participants to the history, traditions and cultural heritage of the Albanians of Italy, offering an opportunity to discover communities that have preserved their language, religious rites, traditional clothing and historical memory for centuries.

The day began with the departure from Lecce and arrival in Civita, where participants explored the village and visited the remarkable Raganello Gorges, one of the most distinctive natural landscapes in the area. The programme also included a visit to the Museum of Albanian Traditions, dedicated to the history and culture of the local Arbëresh community.

After a lunch featuring traditional dishes, the group continued to Frascineto, another significant centre of Arbëresh culture in Calabria. Participants visited the Museum of Icons and Byzantine Traditions and the Museum of Albanian Traditional Costume, both of which offer valuable insights into the relationship between faith, identity, art and popular culture.

One of the most memorable moments of the day was the performance of traditional Albanian dances in costume, giving participants the opportunity to experience the atmosphere of the celebration and discover one of the most authentic expressions of Arbëresh cultural heritage.

The excursion was much more than a simple visit. It became an experience of learning, exchange and rediscovery of the shared roots connecting Albanian communities in the Balkans with the historic Albanian communities of Southern Italy.

Through initiatives of this kind, ASAL Student strengthened its commitment to intercultural dialogue, historical memory and the promotion of Albanian traditions in Italy.