Barile, Maschito, Ginestra, San Costantino Albanese, and San Paolo Albanese. Not just a mere sequence of towns but a group of small centers in the province of Potenza sharing part of their history.
These are some of the towns in southern Italy where the presence of Albanians fleeing their homeland, much like today, remains evident in the customs and traditions of the people. A blend that has endured the unstoppable passage of time but not the erasure of traditions still deeply rooted in the language and memories.
Barile, Maschito, and Ginestra are three neighboring towns located in one of the richest areas of Basilicata. Here, in Vulture, one of Italy’s most important traditional wines is born: Aglianico del Vulture.
In this area of Basilicata, characterized by gentle hills often lined with grapevines and olive trees, these three small centers represent a true attraction due to their “arbëreshë” past (from Alber-Arber) and their cellars dug into the rock almost symbolizing the true union of man and nature.
On the other side of the small region, south towards Calabria and in the heart of Pollino National Park, stand two other small Albanian ethnic centers: San Costantino and San Paolo Albanese. Here too, although the terrain’s morphology has better preserved external influences being a more inland area, the people welcome curious tourists with a greeting in ancient Albanian language.
