May 4, 2024 was a historic day for the Arbëreshe community of Zangarona-Xingarona in Lamezia Terme, with the visit of the President of Albania Bajram Begaj
The meeting, held in Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie, saw the presence of numerous Calabrian and Albanian authorities.
Accompanied by his wife and children, Begaj was welcomed by the deputy mayor Antonello Bevilacqua and the president of the city council Giancarlo Nicotera, together with the councilors and city councilors.
During the visit, Begaj stopped at the archpriest church of Santa Maria delle Grazie together with the diocesan bishop Msgr. Serafino Parisi and the parish priest Don Carlo Ragozzino. A bust depicting Giorgio Castriota Scanderbeg and a mural by the artist Beg celebrating the leader and the Arbëreshë village of Lamezia were inaugurated in the square.
During the speeches, the deputy mayor presented the peculiarities of Lamezia as the fourth city in Calabria, while Nicotera underlined the profound friendship between the Albanian and Arbëreshe populations. The president of the social promotion association “Xingarona largh dhe aser” emphasized the importance of President Begaj’s visit to promote cultural exchange and intercultural dialogue between the two nations.
The visit of the Albanian president was a moment of celebration and strengthening of ties between the linguistic and cultural communities present in the area. Linguistic minorities are a wealth that enriches society and cultural diversity must be preserved and enhanced. This meeting promoted cultural exchange and intercultural dialogue, strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between peoples.
