On January 19, 1732, the Arbëresh St. Adrian College was founded in Calabria.

With direct support from Pope Clement XII, the school aimed to train the Albanian clergy of the Byzantine rite. These priests would serve in Arbëresh churches and, if possible, in Albania.

Later, on the eve of the Albanian National Renaissance, the college became a center of patriotic feeling and the desire for liberation from foreign rulers.

Moreover, it played a key role in educating and preserving the cultural identity of the Arbëresh community in Italy. Notable alumni included Jeronim De Rada, Jul Variboba, Zef Serembe, and Domenico Mauro, who left a mark on Albanian literature and thought.

An important milestone came in 1849 when De Rada established the first chair of the Albanian language. This act institutionalized the study of Albanian in Italy’s educational system.

Furthermore, the college’s rich library and dedicated teaching turned it into a cultural bridge between the Arbëresh and Albania. By its closure in 1919, the college had trained over 100 Albanian intellectuals, confirming its influence on the cultural and educational development of the diaspora.

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