In the Footsteps of Skanderbeg

A journey through time into the Arbëreshë roots

In the Footsteps of Skanderbeg is the historical re-enactment that transforms Casalvecchio di Puglia, a small Arbëreshë village in the Capitanata area of Foggia, into a 15th-century settlement. The event retraces the community's Albanian origins, linked to the arrival in Italy of the followers of the Albanian national hero George Castriot Skanderbeg, who came to Southern Italy in the 15th century to defend Aragonese territories from the ambitions of rebel barons aligned with the Angevins. That epic era forged the deep bond that still connects Casalvecchio to the Arbëreshë language and traditions today.

The 15th-century market fair

The historic center dresses in the past: Piazza Libertà and the village streets host a 15th-century market fair featuring historical re-enactment groups, artisans demonstrating ancient crafts, workshops, food and wine stalls, and period music. Between the alleys, you will encounter jugglers, acrobats, jesters, fire-eaters, and falconers, while sword duels and archery recall the martial atmosphere of Skanderbeg's time.

History, entertainment, and community

Each edition weaves historical rigor with live performance: theatrical shows dedicated to Skanderbeg's arrival, costumed processions, military camps, historical games, and a cultural deep-dive with historians and scholars of Arbëreshë civilization. The artistic direction is entrusted to Michele Amendolagine, with the participation of the Strumenti e Figure association and over one hundred re-enactors, actors, extras, and musicians from all over Italy, joined by local participants.

The medieval banquet

The jewel in the crown of the event is the medieval banquet, set up in the historic center and inspired by ancient gastronomic treatises: dishes reconstructed according to period recipes, accompanied by shows and music. Participation in the banquet is by reservation only, with limited seating.

A heritage to preserve

Supported by the Apulia Region through the Puglia Culture program and projects dedicated to the promotion of linguistic minorities such as "Tracce di Vëllazeria", the re-enactment is much more than a costume party: it is an act of collective memory with which Casalvecchio di Puglia reaffirms its Arbëreshë identity, offering residents and visitors the chance to rediscover one of the most fascinating chapters in the history of the Daunian Mountains.