Santa Cristina Gela
Santa Cristina Gela
Sëndahstina | |
|---|---|
| Comune di Santa Cristina Gela Bashkia e Sëndahstinës | |
View of Santa Cristina Gela from a nearby hill | |
Location of Santa Cristina Gela | |
| Coordinates: 37°59′N 13°20′E / 37.983°N 13.333°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) | |
• 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 |
Santa Cristina Gela (Arberesh: Sëndahstina) is an Arbëreshë village in the Metropolitan City of Palermo in Sicily.
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. It is also the seat of the Union of Albanian Municipalities of Sicily "BESA".
Its inhabitants call themselves Sëndahstinarë and have maintained the Arbëreshë Albanian identity. The municipal administration uses the standard Albanian language in official documents, in accordance with current legislation that protects ethno-linguistic minorities.