Holiday apartment in Piana degli Albanesi: culture, lake and hiking trails

Piana degli Albanesi has preserved its Arbëreshë ethnic and linguistic identity for five centuries. The town lies in a landscape of high mountains and abundant greenery and is reflected in a lake. During a stay in a holiday apartment in Piana degli Albanesi, you can combine this trio of culture, landscape and water with further discoveries.

Arbëreshë tradition and Byzantine churches

The Byzantine rite is reflected in the architecture and sacred art of the churches of Piana degli Albanesi. The Church of S. Demetrio (Chiesa Madre) is a church of the Greek rite dating back to the late 16th century. Giorgio Megalomartire is considered the oldest church in the town. During Holy Week, Piana degli Albanesi hosts moving celebrations of the Byzantine rite, attended by residents wearing traditional Albanian costumes.

Museums between culture and nature

The tour of MUSARB includes sections dedicated to icons, the local area, rural civilization and natural heritage, as well as a herbarium featuring tree species from the Serre della Pizzuta Nature Reserve. MUSARB presents the Arbëreshë culture and the unique cultural identity of Piana degli Albanesi through an immersive museum experience. The historic Shesci district is also home to an open-air museum with urban art works by international artists interpreting the cultural identity of Piana degli Albanesi.

The Museo Collegio di Maria houses a collection of icons and 17th-century paintings, including the Madonna Odigitria by Ioannikios Ieromonaco. It also preserves a significant collection of Byzantine-rite liturgical vestments, created by the college's nuns and carefully preserved over the centuries. A visit to the Museo Collegio di Maria also includes a visit to the Santuario di Maria SS. Odigitria.

Mountains, hiking trails and the Grotta del Garrone

For days spent in nature, there is the Serre della Pizzuta Nature Reserve. It has held this protected status since 1998 and covers 414 hectares in the area of Piana degli Albanesi. The nature reserve is crossed by six hiking trails. The Sentiero del Ladrone is part of the CAI's Sentiero Italia network and begins above Piana degli Albanesi, next to the small church of Santa Maria Odigitria. It leads to the Grotta del Garrone, which is home to remarkable limestone formations and the rare greater horseshoe bat.

In the Lake Oasis area, trails run along the shore of Lake Piana degli Albanesi. The area also includes a picnic site where barbecuing is permitted during periods allowed by law. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can therefore consider whether churches and museums, hiking trails, the lakeshore or a culinary activity should be the focus of your stay.

Cannolo tradition and making your own

The traditional cannolo of Piana degli Albanesi and Santa Cristina Gela – Kannolli i Horës se Arbëreshëvet e i Sëndastinës – is produced within the administrative territories of the municipalities of Piana degli Albanesi and Santa Cristina Gela in the province of Palermo. The Cannolo MasterClass in Piana degli Albanesi offers the opportunity to meet producers in the production chain, learn about the selection of ingredients and make your own traditional cannolo of Piana degli Albanesi.

Further places for planning your trip: Sommariva, Lascari, Casteldaccia, Alimena, Mondello, Ustica, Geraci Siculo, Misilmeri

To the higher-level travel overview: Palermo.