historium:Arbëreshë- The Arbëreshë are an ethnic and linguistic Albanian minority found in southern
historium:Arbëreshë- The Arbëreshë are an ethnic and linguistic Albanian minority found in southern Italy. The Arbëreshë first arrived in Italy in the 15th century, fleeing the Ottoman conquest of the Balkans. While they integrated themselves into the Italian community, the Arbëreshë retained their native language and remained members of the Albanian Eastern Catholic Church. Francesco Crispi, one of the founding fathers of unified Italy and Prime Minister from 1888-1891 was an Arbëreshë from Sicily. Beginning in the 19th century, many Arbëreshë immigrated to the United States, with Americans of Arbëreshë descent including actor Regis Philbin and former Congressman Joseph J. DioGuardi. -- source link