Cerzeto

In Arbëresh Cerzeto is called Qana, while the Italian name comes from the Latin quercus, because the place is full of oak woods. The village was founded around 1478 by families come from Albania, Greeks and Albanians as the papers put it, fleeing the Ottoman advance in the Balkans; and along with Cerzeto two other Arbëresh villages were founded, today its hamlets: San Giacomo, which is Shën Japku, and Cavallerizzo, which is Kajverici. The comune belonged first to the barony of San Marco and then passed to the Cavalcanti. Cavallerizzo today is empty: a landslide, on 7 March 2005, had its houses evacuated, and the village was rebuilt at the edge of the administrative centre.

What is left of that origin are the things made with the hands and with the calendar. The women keep the traditional Albanian wedding costume and wear it on the occasions that deserve it, a wedding first of all; and weaving, which is the village's most renowned craft, turns out tapestries, blankets and bags with designs and themes taken from Albanian history. From the Christmas feasts through to Carnival they play the game of the cheese and the disc. On the three days of Carnival nobody works, and the reason is an old legend: these are the days of Santa Zagaria, and whatever you set going on those days ends up gnawed by mice. On 6 December comes the feast of San Nicola di Mira, who is the patron saint.