Piana degli Albanesi (Zip Code 90037) is 139 km. distant from Agrigento, 142 km. from Caltanissetta, 242 km. from Catania, 161 km. from Enna, 283 km. from Messina, 24 km. from Palermo,which province it belongs to, 283 km. from Ragusa, 307 km. from Siracusa, 88 km. from Trapani.
The municipality has 6.384 inhabitants and an area of 6.489 hectares for a density of population of 98 inhabitants per square kilometre. It rises on an internal hilly area and is 720 metres above sea-level.
The Town Hall is placed in via Matteotti, tel. ++39 091-8574144 fax. ++39 091-8574796. E-mail address is: comune.pianalbanesi@tin.it.
Cereals, grapes, olives and vegetables are its main agricultural products of Pianese economy. Wide is also breeding both of cattle and sheeps. Particular are handicraft products such as golden embroideries, puppets in Albanian-costume, icons, painting on cloth and artistic pottery articles.
Originally Piana degli Albanesi was called Hora that means town. It was founded in 1488 by a group of Albanian refugees escaped to Turkish army. King John II of Spain allowed them to occupy that place and to preserve their Greek cult so that the small town had the name of Piana dei Greci. In the times it changed into Piana degli Albanesi. Since 1941 it rises on a hill below it there is a basin that is the cradle of an artificial lake.
The most important monuments are the Cathedral Church with Greek rite and dates back to 1590; the chiesa di Santa Maria Odigitria (Church of St. Mary Odigitria) built in 1644 according to architect Pietro Novelli's plan; the chiesa di S. Giorgio (Church of St. George), the oldest of the town, and the chiesa di S. Vito (Church of St. Vito) with an imposing portal.
In Piana degli Albanesi it is singular and beautiful Easter Feast that takes place according to a peculiar itinerary: at the admittance of the town two Pianesi (inhabitant of Piana), dreesing the typical costume, receive visitors and give them some coloured eggs. Later followed the Mass and during it the Gospel is read in seven different languages, among them there is also the Arabic. In the end through the town streets a long train takes place and on the occasion the inhabitants wear sumptuos costumes.
Tourism in Piana degli Albanesi
Copyright © 2004 Jo Saunders
The Church of San Giorgio
Built in 1495, the Church is the most ancient of the town and it is possible to enter in it by an elegant flight of steps.
The inside has a structure with an only nave covered by a precious barrelvault and it keeps still now most of original furnitures.
Among these there is a painting of best workmanship made by Cristodoro (1759) representing San Giorgio in Gloria (St. George into Glory).
Along side walls it is possible to admire some very precious canvases, among which the Crocifissione (Crucifixion) and San Filippo Neri in preghiera (St. Philip Neri while is praying) made, in neoclassical style, by Giuseppe Patania (1780-1852) and San Giorgio in prigione (St. George in prison) attributed to Pietro Novelli (1603-1647).
In direction of left wall there is a valuable statue of San Giorgio made by Girolamo Bagnasco (1810-1813). Finally iconostasis is enriched with various new icons made according to Byzantine criteria.
Air companies
The main civil airport of the province of Palermo is "Falcone - Borsellino" in Palermo - Punta Raisi, 35 km. from the city.
From there you can reach daily all the main italian and international cities.
Sea lines
The nearest port is in Palermo (24 Km.).
Roads
Highways
Piana degli Albanesi lies near the following two highways. The highway 113 connecting Trapani to Messina and the highway 186 connecting Palermo to Partinico.
Motorways
In Piana degli Albanesi there are no motorway lines. The nearest ones are the motorway A19 connecting Palermo to Catania. Another one is the motorway A29 connecting Palermo to Trapani.
They are a freeways and have two lanes plus an emergency lane in both directions. In the motorway A29 there are no gas stations, but it is easy to find fuel in any of the towns crossed by the same motorway.
The motorway A19 provides the following service areas:
Caracoli between Termini Imerese junction and industrial area;
Scillato between Buonfornello junction and Scillato junction;
Sacchitello between Enna junction and Mulinello junction;
Gelso Bianco at Motta Sant'Anastasia junction.
Railways
Piana degli Albanesi
(Railway station of interest: Palermo Centrale. Distance from the town: 24 Km)
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