Contessa Entellina
Kundisa (in Arberesh)
Emblem of Contessa Entellina
My Clesi ancestors immigrated from Contessa Entellina, it wasn't for a lack of beautiful countryside but instead like thousands of other sicilians, they left their homeland in hopes of prosperity and a new beginning in America. My Clesi family had strong roots in Contessa, they settled there during the 1590's. Contessa is a very special place with a very unique history.
Contessa Entellina is a small comune/town of about 2000 residents located in the province of Palermo, Sicily and dates to about 1450. It was founded near the site of the ancient Trojen city of Entella, which itself was founded around 1150 BCE. Contessa is one of the few Arbereshe (Albanian) settled communities in Sicily. By 1570, Contessa Entellina was home to about 875 people belonging to 203 families. Contessa continued to grow and during the time the census of 1593 was taken, all the family names reported were of Albanian origin. The Albanians who settled Contessa were of the Greek-Byzantine rite which is still a part of Contessa today.
The priests of the Byzantine are called "Papas", as opposed to "Padre" or "Father". During the early years of Contessa The "Papas" were the teachers in the elementary schools. The "Papas" have always been the scholars and men of learning. This tradition of scholarly priests is still carried on even today.
Church of SS Annunziata San Nicola early 1900
When the founding fathers of Contessa were laying out their streets, each was named to reflect and honor their Albanian roots. Our Clesi surname was honored as well with it's own street dedicated to it; Via Clesi-which is an old Albanian family name. There is Via Albania-in honor of their homeland; Via Sciambra-an Albanian family name; Via Schiro'-a distinguished family of Contessa and one of the main streets, Via Kastiotta-named after the great Albanian hero, Giorgio Kastriot Skanderburg. These are just a few of the many symbolically named streets of Contessa Entellina.
Contessa's population grew from about 1,565 residents during 1718 to over 3,400 during 1861, which was also about the time Contessa reached her peak population before the Arbereshe of Contessa would embark upon a second mass immigration in over 400 years. The majority of Contessiotti immigrated through and settled in New Orleans, however, my Clesi family immigrated through Ellis Island in NY. There were also other smaller Arbereshe communities to be found in a few other cities like Ybor City, where my Clesi family settled.
The culture, language, customs, foods and religion of Sicily's Arbereshe differs greatly from the rest of Sicily's population. These differences still thrive in Contessa and even among some of the now American decendants of Contessa Entellina.
Nicola Chetta
Italo-Albanian writer and poet Nicola Chetta (1740?-1803), Alb. Nikollë Keta, was born in Contessa Entellina. He was educated at the Greek seminary in Palermo. In 1777, Chetta became rector of the seminary himself. As a poet, he wrote both religious and secular verse in Albanian and Greek, and has the honour of having composed the first Albanian sonnet (1777).
Of Honourable Lineage
Of honourable lineage in Contessa was born
Nick Chetta, a scion of the Albanian soil.
He went to Palermo, to the Albanian home
Which received him like a featherless bird in a nest.
It clothed him, girded him with manners, with wisdom,
In the heat it refreshed him with its shade, like
The vine-stock readorning its withered branches,
And now a priest, the church took him for her spouse.
Like a lost bird he stretched his two wings
In Palermo and Contessa, both here and there
He sought honour for the Albanians in all his writings.
Like a silkworm he exhausted himself
And wove, embellished and wrote this treasure
To enrich Albania in every possible way.
Nick Chetta, a scion of the Albanian soil.
He went to Palermo, to the Albanian home
Which received him like a featherless bird in a nest.
It clothed him, girded him with manners, with wisdom,
In the heat it refreshed him with its shade, like
The vine-stock readorning its withered branches,
And now a priest, the church took him for her spouse.
Like a lost bird he stretched his two wings
In Palermo and Contessa, both here and there
He sought honour for the Albanians in all his writings.
Like a silkworm he exhausted himself
And wove, embellished and wrote this treasure
To enrich Albania in every possible way.
