Albanian heritage in Gravina di Puglia

Between 1448 and 1543, Albanian migrants settled in Southern Italy, establishing new communities or repopulating abandoned ones. In Gravina di Puglia, this presence left a significant cultural and architectural legacy. The integration was bolstered by the marriage of Angela Castriota Granai, a descendant of Skanderbeg, to Ferdinando Orsini, the Duke of Gravina.

According to representatives from the tour guide association Calcarea Aps, the Albanian settlers contributed extensively to local infrastructure. They utilized advanced stone-working skills to build water mills and assisted in the reconstruction of public works, such as the Cathedral and the Episcopal Seminary, following the earthquake of 1456. Additionally, they introduced specialized livestock farming techniques suited for mountainous and hilly terrains.