On December 15, 1999, the Arbëresh communities of Italy were recognized as an ethnic linguistic minority.

The legal recognition of the population of Albanian origin exiled in Southern Italy is based on the framework law no. 482. The status of the linguistic minority enables the teaching of the Albanian language in primary and secondary schools, in addition to its official use in the state administration, in libraries, in public services, etc.

The Albanian population went exiled to Italy, when the country was placed under the Ottoman conquest at the end of the XV century. Despite the assimilating repression, the Arbëresh people persistently preserved the tradition, culture and Arbëresh symbols.

The General Directorate of Archives was bringing photos from the visit of a group of arbëresh from Italy during their visit to Albania and the memorandum addressed to the head of the Albanian delegation at the Peace Conference in Paris (after WWI) from the Arbëresh of Palermo, who expressed their pain for the Albania’s rights violations.

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