Who is Loris Castriota Skanderbegh, whose family is descended from the son of the national hero.
A chance meeting between two journalists these days has revealed that one of the descendants of Gjergj Kastrioti-Skënderbeu lives and works in Foggia in Puglia, in Italy. He is a journalist, but his name tells everything: his name is Loris Castriota Skanderbegh and he does not hide that he comes from the family of the "chief prince of Arbër".
The following is the interview of the journalist Scinicariello with him, which was published in the newspaper "Il mattino di Foggia", Albanian reports.
Hello, Loris. First, thank you very much for deciding to accept this interview. After I met you in Foggia during the visit with the participation of the media "Foggia Svelata" (Foggia revealed) and after discovering your last name, being a lover of the Balkans and Albania, my curiosity arose. Tell me what connections you have with the Albanian hero Gjergj Kastrioti-Skënderbeu? In Albania it is a really important symbol, isn't it?
I am a direct descendant of George. My family lives in Pulja since his son came here, after the hero's death. The Castriotes first received the fiefs of Monte Sant'Angelo and San Giovanni Rotondo, then exchanged them for the fiefs of Galatina and Soleto, in Salento. Since then, my family lives in Lecce. I am here after my father, Giorgio, decided to marry a resident of Foggia, my mother Adele Berardi.
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Map from 1455 exhibited as evidence of Skanderbeg's role
What is the relationship between the Albanian hero and Pulja?
Skanderbeg's historical relations with Pula are important, although this is known only to history researchers, Albanians and the inhabitants of Arbëresh communities, historical Italian-Albanian "colonies" that settled in the center-south of Italy in the past centuries and where they are preserved historical memory, traditions, customs of the country of origin. Skanderbeg, grateful for the help King Alfonso of Naples gave him in his fight against the Ottoman invasion attempts, between August 1461 and February 1462 personally came to Pula to support the new King Ferrante of Aragon, who ascended to throne after the death of his father Alfonso in 1458 and was experiencing great difficulties. In fact, Ferrante was engaged in suppressing the attempted conquest of the kingdom by Giovanni of the Angevins, who claimed the throne, and had convinced many great feudal lords to rise up in revolt, demanding the restoration of French rule. Surrounded in the castle of Barletta, the king was barely holding the throne. But George Kastrioti, taking advantage of a truce with the sultan, came to repay the debt of honor he owed to the Aragonese dynasty, and, with a body of about 700 horsemen and an unknown number of footmen, landed at Barletta, freed the king, and led some military action, which effectively reversed the fortunes of the conflict, to the point that it led Ferrante to victory on August 18 at Troia, province of Foggia, a decisive victory to maintain control of the kingdom. This was an occasion to strengthen the ties between the Castriot family and the Aragon family. It was no coincidence that, after George died, King Ferrante invited his son and widow, John and Donika, to move to the Kingdom of Naples in order not to become victims of the sultan's revenge, which was ending the conquest of Albanian territory.
Is the Albanian community in Pulja very large today?
There are three arboretum centers, those founded or repopulated by the historical Italian-Albanian community: San Marzano di San Giuseppe (Taranto), Casalvecchio di Puglia (Foggia) and Chieuti (Foggia). In total, a little more than 12 thousand inhabitants and you all speak the language that has been transmitted over five centuries in those areas. Today we have a serious problem of preserving the language, traditions and cultural identity: a historical and folkloric heritage, which is in danger of disappearing in the face of the standardization of globalized knowledge and the gradual disappearance of the custom of the Arberesh people to marry only among themselves and by transmitting doke and language in everyday life.
Today you live in Foggia, you are a journalist and you deal with the communications department at the mayor's office, but that's all. During the "Foggia Svelata" media visit, you accompanied us to the City Museum and did not hide your love for that place and for the city. Do you think that Foggia still has an unexpressed potential at the tourist level? Is there anything more that can be done to showcase this city and attract visitors from all over Italy and, why not, from all over the world?
having. Foggia has many unknown aspects even for its inhabitants, who have maintained an almost unbelieving attitude towards the importance and historical-artistic beauty of their city. It is the result of negative events that have happened in Foggia over the years, such as the devastating earthquake of 1731 or the Allied bombings in the summer of 1943. However, despite the destruction suffered, Foggia has preserved many interesting testimonies of the past, which will they liked even the "hardest" tourists: it is important to have a competent, prepared and passionate guide.
In terms of "showing the city", the municipal administration has done a lot "indirectly", organizing attractive events such as "Libando", the street food festival, or "Giordano in Jazz", an annual meeting with concerts of the greatest musicians. of this genre, to attract visitors to fall in love with Foggia too or to stop or return here to get to know it better. But as far as Albania is concerned, how do you see the development of tourism in recent years?
Large flows of tourism, including international tourism, are beginning to arrive in the Land of Eagles, especially during the summer and especially in the coastal areas of the center and south of Albania: this is due to the unpolluted beaches, the accommodation structures that are improving more and more lot and really competitive prices. But when tourists discover that there are things to see in the interior, both in terms of landscape and culture, Albania will become a first-rate destination for those who love beauty in every corner of the planet. !
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Serbian-Albanian dynastic ties in the Middle Ages
One last question, in your opinion, is there a connection or something that unites Pula with Albania?
There is a strong connection, which is not only related to the "geographic latitude" in which the two territories are located: we are Mediterranean peoples and we share customs and ways of life, but also similar landscapes. I would add that today's Puglia people are descended from the Illyrian tribes, who migrated to the south of Italy, in Puglia, starting from the first millennium BC: the Dauns (present-day province of Foggia), the Peucets (in present-day central Puglia) and Mesapes (in Salento). All of them were called Japigs and the people of Pulje owe them an important part of their ancestral culture. This connection was renewed during the migrations of the 15th century and was kept alive by the Albanian communities, but it was "revived" by the arrival of new Albanian immigrants in the 90s and today it has gained new strength thanks to the intensification of relations institutional between Pula and Albania and for the fact that the port and airport of Bari are points of arrival and departure between the two territories. Basically, this is a bond that has never gone away and will continue to strengthen in the future.
