San Basile
An Arbëreshë community at the foot of Pollino
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San Basile - Regione Calabria
San Basile is a mountain village located at the foot of Pollino, in the province of Cosenza, part of the National Park, along the Coscile river valley. Its Arbëreshë community preserves the customs, language and Greek-Byzantine rites typical of the Italian-Albanian tradition.
Founded between 1475 and 1480 by the Albanian community fleeing Turkish persecution, San Basile arose around the Cenobio di San Basilio Craterete, an Eastern saint from whom it also derives its name, becoming over the years a true Basilian monastery: the current Shrine of Santa Maria Odigitria, one of the few Greek-Byzantine rite monasteries in Italy, in a splendid panoramic position and rich in Eastern works of art.
Due to its origins, the majority of the population of San Basile still speaks the Arbëreshë language. The historic centre is located north of the primitive monastery, built around the ancient district of Kroj ("spring"), and features the Monument to Giorgio Castriota Skanderbeg, hero of the Albanians, by the Albanian sculptor Ardian Pepa. The Church of St. John the Baptist is the main place of worship for the community, which holds its rituals and celebrates the main Greek-Byzantine holidays (Lent and Easter) here, during which it is recommended to visit San Basile.
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