# Piana degli Albanesi

> Italian comune

**Wikidata**: [Q489267](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q489267)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piana_degli_Albanesi)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/piana-degli-albanesi

## Summary
Piana degli Albanesi is a comune (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Palermo, Sicily, Italy, notable for its historical ties to the Italo-Albanian community and its ecclesiastical heritage. It is home to the Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi, part of the Italo-Albanian Church, and the historic Piana degli Albanesi Cathedral, dating to 1498.

## Key Facts
- **Location**: Metropolitan City of Palermo, Sicily, Italy
- **Country**: Italy (ISO 3166-1: IT)
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 38° N, Longitude 13.283333333333° E
- **Population**: Approximately 6,219 (latest), with historical figures of 6,157 and 5,541
- **Aliases**: Hora e Arbëreshëvet, Nobilis Planæ Albanensium Civitas, Chiana
- **Website**: [https://comune.pianadeglialbanesi.pa.it/](https://comune.pianadeglialbanesi.pa.it/)
- **Cathedral**: Piana degli Albanesi Cathedral, established in 1498
- **Eparchy**: Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi, founded on October 26, 1937
- **Historical Event**: Site of the Portella della Ginestra massacre (May 1, 1947)
- **Classification**: Italian comune, municipal division of Italy
- **Wikipedia Title**: Piana degli Albanesi
- **Wikidata Description**: Italian comune
- **Sitelink Count**: 55

## FAQs

**What is Piana degli Albanesi known for?**  
Piana degli Albanesi is known for its Italo-Albanian cultural heritage, the historic Piana degli Albanesi Cathedral (founded in 1498), and the Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi, established in 1937. It is also historically linked to the Portella della Ginestra massacre of 1947.

**Where is Piana degli Albanesi located?**  
It is located in the Metropolitan City of Palermo, within the region of Sicily, Italy. Its geographic coordinates are approximately 38°N and 13.283°E.

**What is the population of Piana degli Albanesi?**  
The population has varied in recent years: 6,219 (latest), 6,157, and 5,541 in earlier counts.

**What religious institutions are based in Piana degli Albanesi?**  
The town hosts the Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi, part of the Italo-Albanian Church, and the Piana degli Albanesi Cathedral, which dates back to 1498.

**What historical events are associated with Piana degli Albanesi?**  
It is notably associated with the Portella della Ginestra massacre on May 1, 1947, a significant event in Italian post-war history.

## Why It Matters
Piana degli Albanesi holds cultural and historical significance as a center of the Italo-Albanian community in Sicily. Its cathedral and eparchy are emblematic of the enduring presence of Eastern Rite Catholicism in Italy. The town also plays a role in Italian political history due to its proximity to the Portella della Ginestra massacre, a pivotal moment in post-World War II Italy. As a comune, it contributes to the administrative and cultural fabric of the Metropolitan City of Palermo.

## Notable For
- Hosting the **Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi**, a unique ecclesiastical jurisdiction within the Italo-Albanian Church
- Home to the **Piana degli Albanesi Cathedral**, founded in 1498
- Cultural preservation of **Arbëreshë** (Italo-Albanian) traditions
- Association with the **Portella della Ginestra massacre** (1947)
- Being a **comune of Italy**, part of the broader municipal structure of the Italian state
- Geographic and historical ties to **Sicily** and the **Metropolitan City of Palermo**

## Body

### Geography and Administrative Context
Piana degli Albanesi is a comune located in the **Metropolitan City of Palermo**, Sicily, Italy. It is part of the **Province of Palermo**, a former administrative province. The town is situated at **latitude 38° N** and **longitude 13.283333333333° E**, placing it in the central-western part of Sicily. As a comune, it is one of the **municipal divisions of Italy**, a classification shared with over 7,000 other comuni across the country.

### History and Cultural Heritage
The town is historically significant for its association with the **Italo-Albanian community**, descendants of Albanian refugees who settled in Sicily and southern Italy during the late 15th century. The **Piana degli Albanesi Cathedral**, established in **1498**, is a key religious and architectural landmark. The **Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi**, part of the **Italo-Albanian Church**, was founded on **October 26, 1937**, and is headquartered in the town. This ecclesiastical structure reflects the town's role in preserving Byzantine liturgical traditions in a Latin-dominant country.

### Notable Events
Piana degli Albanesi is historically linked to the **Portella della Ginestra massacre**, which occurred on **May 1, 1947**. This event, where bandits attacked a May Day celebration, resulted in multiple deaths and became a symbol of the social and political instability in post-war Italy.

### Religious Institutions
- **Piana degli Albanesi Cathedral**: Founded in **1498**, it serves as a central place of worship for the Italo-Albanian community.
- **Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi**: Established on **October 26, 1937**, it is a diocese of the Italo-Albanian Church, headquartered in the town and connected to the broader Eastern Catholic tradition.

### Demographics and Population
The population of Piana degli Albanesi has been recorded as:
- **6,219** (latest)
- **6,157**
- **5,541** (earlier count)

These figures reflect the town's small but historically significant community, particularly in terms of preserving minority religious and linguistic traditions.

### Official Presence and Digital Footprint
The town maintains an official website at [https://comune.pianadeglialbanesi.pa.it/](https://comune.pianadeglialbanesi.pa.it/), providing civic information and services. It is also documented in **Wikipedia** under the title *Piana degli Albanesi* and described in **Wikidata** as an Italian comune. The entity has a **sitelink count of 55**, indicating moderate digital presence and scholarly interest.

### Nomenclature and Aliases
Piana degli Albanesi is known by several names:
- **Hora e Arbëreshëvet** (Albanian)
- **Nobilis Planæ Albanensium Civitas** (Latin)
- **Chiana**

These reflect its multicultural and multilingual heritage, rooted in both Italian and Albanian traditions.

### Broader Context within Italy
As part of **Italy**, Piana degli Albanesi falls under the jurisdiction of a country with:
- A **parliamentary republic** government
- A **unitary state** structure
- A **capital in Rome**
- A **total area of 302,068 km²**
- A **population of approximately 58.85 million** (as of 2023)
- A **currency of Euro (€)** since 2002
- A **membership in the European Union** since 1957

Italy's rich history, from the Roman Empire to the modern republic established in **1946**, provides the broader national context for Piana degli Albanesi’s local identity.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. Italian National Institute of Statistics
4. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2018/index3.html)
5. [Source](https://demo.istat.it/?l=it)
6. GeoNames
7. [Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011. Italian National Institute of Statistics](https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/156224)
8. Wiki Loves Monuments Italia
9. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
10. Seismic classification in Italy
11. [Source](https://rischi.protezionecivile.gov.it/it/sismico/attivita/classificazione-sismica)