San Costantino Albanese

San Costantino Albanese is one of the most characteristic villages of Arbëreshe culture in Basilicata and is located in the heart of the Pollino National Park. The Albanian populations who found refuge here also left their identity imprinted in the architecture and religious functions strongly linked to the Greek-Byzantine rite, especially on the occasion of typical wedding ceremonies.

The inhabitants of San Costantino Albanese still speak Albanian, which is one of the official languages of the municipality. In the small village everything tells of the passage and influence of the Arbëreshe populations which took place in the 16th century as evidenced by the names of the characteristic streets indicated in the Italian and Albanian versions.

The main religion is Catholicism, and the community practices the Byzantine rite, which is an eastern form of Christianity. The community celebrates various religious rites and holidays related to the Arbëreshë tradition. One of the most important moments is the feast of San Costantino, the town's patron saint, which takes place in May and includes religious processions and other traditional celebrations.

Even the traditional cuisine of San Costantino Albanese is influenced by the Albanian tradition: the "souvlaki" (meat skewers), the "trahana" (a kind of semolina pasta), and traditional desserts such as "baklava", are just some of the Arbëreshë-derived dishes that characterize the local food and wine.

Splendid naturalistic and landscape resources envelop the town between the scent of the broom and the typical colors of the Pollino National Park, whose beauties can be admired from above, with the "Flight of the Eagle", a new concept attractor that allows you to fly over the roofs of the small arbëreshë community in four, on a hang glider fixed to a steel cable, and feel closer to the eagles and falcons that guard these places.

In the historic center stands the Ethnomuseum of the Arbëreshe community of San Costantino Albanese which houses the library of Albanian culture, the iconographic exhibition of the master Josif Droboniku, author of the icons that adorn the mother church, and the Arbëreshe Nativity Scene.