Piana degli Albanesi

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Comune di Piana degli Albanesi

Country	Italy
Region	Sicily
Province	Palermo (PA)
Mayor	Gaetano Caramanno (since May 28, 2002)

Elevation	725 m
Area	64 km²
Population
- Total (as of 2001)	6,227
- Density	97/km²
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates	38°0′N 13°17′E
Gentilic	Pianesi
Dialing code	091
Postal code	90037

Patron	St. George
- Day	April 23
Website: www.pianalbanesi.it/

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v • d • e

Church of Sëndo Vitit, of Latin Catholic rite

Piana degli Albanesi is an Italian comune in the Province of Palermo, Sicily. It has 6,227 inhabitants as of 2001.

The town is known for being principally an Arbëreshë community, and is called Hora e Arbëreshëvet in the resident's own dialect of Albanian. The town was founded by refugees from Himarë, Albania between the 16th to 18th centuries. The town is famous for the Kisha e Shën Mitrit (church of St. Demiter) and the Kisha e Shën Gjergjit (Church of St. George), which have Byzantine Catholic rites, unique to Arberesh villages. It also has a Latin Rite church which dates to 1514.

Piana degli Albanesi is also officially bilingual, as the official town documents are written in both Albanian and Italian and its citizens are still today proficient in both languages. It is also known for its typical and popular variety of cannoli, much bigger than average.