Piana degli Albanesi

Piana degli Albanesi is a mountain commune set on a plateau in the Metropolitan City of Palermo, roughly 24 kilometers from the capital. The settlement sits at 740 meters and is ringed by several peaks that rise above the wide valley.

Albanian refugees founded the settlement in 1488 after receiving land from the Archbishop of Monreale. The newcomers fled the Ottoman advance in the Balkans and built their own community here.

Residents still speak Arbërisht in daily life and celebrate their festivities according to the Byzantine rite. Walking through the streets, you notice the traditional garments women wear on special occasions: gold-embroidered costumes that recall Albanian patterns.

The commune is reachable from Palermo by regular bus services that wind up mountain roads to the plateau. Once there, you will find restaurants, shops, and a few lodging options suited for a quiet stay in the mountains.

The town hosts the episcopal seat of the Italo-Albanian Byzantine Catholic Church, serving as a center for the entire diaspora. It is also the largest Arbëreshë settlement in Sicily, giving its culture particular visibility.

Location: Metropolitan City of Palermo

Capital city: Piana degli Albanesi

Elevation above the sea: 740 m

Shares border with: Monreale, Santa Cristina Gela, Altofonte, San Giuseppe Jato

Website: https://comune.pianadeglialbanesi.pa.it

GPS coordinates: 38.00000,13.28333

Latest update: December 13, 2025 19:44