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Santa Cristina Gela
Comune in Sicily, Italy / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Santa Cristina Gela (Arberesh: Sëndahstina) is an Arbëreshë village in the Metropolitan City of Palermo in Sicily.
Santa Cristina Gela
Sëndahstina | |
---|---|
Comune di Santa Cristina Gela | |
![]() View of Santa Cristina Gela from a nearby hill | |
Coordinates: 37°59′N 13°20′E | |
Country | Italy |
Region | Sicily |
Metropolitan city | Palermo (PA) |
Frazioni | Altofonte, Belmonte Mezzagno, Marineo, Monreale, Piana degli Albanesi |
Government | |
• Mayor | Giuseppe Cangialosi |
Area | |
• Total | 38 km2 (15 sq mi) |
Elevation | 670 m (2,200 ft) |
Population (31 December 2010)[2] | |
• Total | 927 |
• Density | 24/km2 (63/sq mi) |
Demonym | Santacristinesi (Albanian Sëndahstinarë) |
Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Postal code | 90030 |
Dialing code | 091 |
Patron saint | Saint Cristina |
Saint day | 24 July |
Website | Official website |
The village, along with Contessa Entellina and Piana degli Albanesi, is one of three Arberesh settlements in Sicily where the Arberesh language is still spoken. It is the smallest and newest Arbëresh settlement in Sicily, founded at the end of the 17th century by settlers from the nearby Piana degli Albanesi (Hora e Arbëreshëvet), which is 3 km away.
Ecclesiastically it belongs to the Byzantine rite Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi although is a church that uses the Latin rite.[3] It is also the seat of the Union of Albanian Municipalities of Sicily "BESA".
During the Spanish inquisition Jewish people from the Palermo province settled in the village and neighbouring Piana degli Albanesi due to the fact that the inquisition did not have jurisprudence over the Byzantine catholic community. Many of the surnames in Santa Cristina Gela reflect the Crypto-Jewish heritage of families in the community.
Its inhabitants call themselves Sëndahstinarë and have maintained the Arbëreshë Albanian identity.[3] The municipal administration uses the standart Albanian language in official documents, in accordance with current legislation that protects ethno-linguistic minorities.
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