Arbëreshë Historical Pageant of Biancavilla

A city that tells its own story

The Arbëreshë Historical Pageant of Biancavilla, in the province of Catania, is much more than a costume parade: it is the way an entire community commemorates the founding moment of its history. The event, organized by the Associazione Rievocazioni Storiche Arbëreshë di Biancavilla in collaboration with the local municipality, is considered the only re-enactment of its kind in Eastern Sicily.

1482: The escape from Shkodër

The re-enactment brings to life the events of 1482, when a group of Albanians from Shkodër, fleeing the advance of the Turkish army, crossed the Ionian Sea under the leadership of Cesare De Masi to reach their countrymen in the Piana dei Greci (modern-day Piana degli Albanesi). The refugees stopped in an area known as Callicari, or Poggio Rosso. According to tradition, they hung a precious Byzantine icon of the Madonna dell'Elemosina on a fig tree; during the night, the branches grew around the image, preventing the exiles from continuing their journey. This sign was interpreted as a divine will to remain in that place. Count Gian Tommaso Moncada granted them the settlement, and over time, the village became known as Biancavilla.

The procession: from Villa delle Favare to Piazza Roma

The heart of the event is the long procession of participants in late-medieval attire that winds through the town streets: it starts from the charming Villa delle Favare and reaches Piazza Roma, where the arrival of the Albanian refugees and the placement of the Madonna dell'Elemosina icon on the fig tree are staged. The Basilica of Santa Maria dell'Elemosina, the town's patron, remains the spiritual reference point for the entire ritual.

A heritage of identity

The initiative stems from the desire to recover and pass on the Arbëreshë cultural heritage—the tradition of the Greek-Albanians of Sicily—which time had partially erased in Biancavilla. The spectacle and popular involvement intertwine with strong social and identity values, restoring the memory of their roots to the Etna community. Included in the patronal festivities that enliven the city between late September and early October, the re-enactment is a highly anticipated event for residents and visitors alike.