Casalvecchio (Albanian: Kazallveqi) is a small Italian comune in the southeastern region of Italy. It is located in the province of Foggia in the Puglia region. The current mayor, Michele Boccamazzo, runs a community of 2,167 people[1]. Mostly from a 15th century Albanian migration, the residents have subsisted on family-run farming. Of those native to the area for generations, many have continued use of the Arbereshe dialect even those of the post-World War 2 generation.
History
In 1461 near Monte Gargano in the southeastern Apennine mountains a group of 5000 immigrants from Albania fled the enculturation of the Turks and Islam. They were sent by Gjergj Kastrioti i Krujës, also known as George Castriota Skanderbeg. The area around Puglia was granted to the incomers by the king of Naples[2].
Italy
