The Lake of Piana degli Albanesi

The history of Lake Piana degli Albanesi

The history of Lake Piana degli Albanesi in Sicily, in the territory of the Metropolitan City of Palermo, begins in 1920: year after year, the engineer's project Aurelius Drago is realized, with the creation of an artificial basin, inaugurated in 1923.

Barring the course of the Belice river, a basin was created not only for the supply of drinking water, but also for agricultural use and for feeding the Guadalami hydroelectric plant, built downstream.
Today the water collected thanks to the Piana dam it also feeds the Casuzze hydroelectric plant in Palermo.

Extremely important for the life and economy of the entire Piana degli Albanesi area, the lake became a large natural oasis at the end of the last century, a transformation which also bears witness to the beauty of the place, which over the course of the Novecento a symbol for Piana.

In 1999 the Piana degli Albanesi lake was sold by Enel and became Oasis of the WWF, as well as a tourist attraction in the area for nature lovers: overall, the naturalistic area of ​​the lake extends for about 410 hectares and is often the scene of sporting events, both aquatic and land-based.

The first artificial basin to be built in Sicily, the Piana degli Albanesi lake is today a body of water populated by local flora and fauna, a destination for tourists and Sicilians who want to relax in nature and still performs its hydroelectric function.

Geography of the lake of Piana degli Albanesi

With an area of ​​about 3,29 km², Lake Piana degli Albanesi is still today one of the largest artificial basins on the island. Nestled in the mountains Pizzuta, Kumeta, Rossella and Leandro (all peaks exceeding a thousand meters in height) the lake is located at an altitude of 610 meters above sea level.

The naturalistic area that surrounds it and takes the name of Piana degli Albanesi Oasis, extends for about 410 km, offering its visitors a beautiful natural panorama, rich in vegetation, water, mountains and naturally populated by many animal species.

Around the lake you can come across oak woods; there are numerous willows and poplars and there are patches of holly and eucalyptus.

The lake is populated by trout, carp and tench, while the other animals that can be spotted during a walk on the banks or in the woods, are frogs, hares and wild rabbits, hedgehogs and even red foxes; among the birds that fly over the basin, kestrels, buzzards and even eagles.

What to do at the lake of Piana degli Albanesi and in the surrounding area

Stretched out between the mountains, Lake Piana degli Albanesi offers its visitors a beautiful scenery, appreciated both by the inhabitants of the area and by tourists: one goes to the lake to spend a few hours of relaxation, immersed in the tranquility of a natural oasis, enjoying the view of water and mountains, able to calm the spirit; in the WWF Oasis there are also some areas equipped for picnics, so those who wish can stop at the table, perhaps tasting the best products from local farms.

Among the activities to do outdoors, near Lake Piana degli Albanesi there are certainly excursions, mountain bike trails and birdwatchinglooking for the eagle. With a little luck, you can spot many animals, a real show even for children.

In Piana degli Albanesi, where the lake is located, there is also the town, with almost 6.000 inhabitants. Here it is possible to stay in the hotel, to organize a tour of the surroundings, starting from the lake, but without forgetting the other attractions in the area.

In Piana, you can visit churches such as the Rural Church of SS. Madonna Hodegetria from the XNUMXth century, located just outside the town, or the ancient one Cathedral of San Demetrio Megalomartire in the center. The Albanian community has lived here since 1400 and has determined the language, uses and customs of the country, so a holiday in Piana can turn into a real journey to discover a culture that is perfectly integrated into the island.

To understand the spirit of Piana, you can take long walks through the streets of the centre, to discover the historical testimonies in the town: they are in fact visible everywhere traces of the medieval eraof the modern and contemporary age.

Rich in history, this area offers visitors many opportunities to discover Sicily: less than 30 km from Lake Piana degli Albanesi, there is Palermo, in which it is advisable to spend at least an entire day, in order not to miss wonders such as the Church of Santa Caterina, Piazza Pretoria or Palazzo Mirto.

How to get to the lake of Piana degli Albanesi

Lake Piana degli Albanesi is about 27 km from Palermo and it is easy for tourists wishing to visit the Natural Oasis of Piana degli Albanesi to arrive at their destination by car or train.

From Palermo, just take the SS624 up to km 20 and then take the junction for Piana degli Albanesi. Shortly after the town, you reach the lake.

By train, get off at the Palermo Guadagna or Vespri stations and continue by bus to the town.

© Giuseppe Tucci, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons; Pequod76, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Costacostacostacosta, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons