A Viral Encounter in Rome: The Italian Soldiers Safeguarding Albanian Roots

 The two Italian soldiers stand proudly next to the physical portraits gifted to them by the photographer, celebrating a spontaneous moment of shared heritage on the streets of Rome.

A heart-warming viral video titled "Një copëz Shqipërie në zemër të Romës" (A piece of Albania in the heart of Rome) has captured a rare, spontaneous moment of cultural connection on the cobbled streets of the Italian capital. What started as a simple request for a street portrait quickly turned into a beautiful demonstration of how ancient traditions survive across centuries and borders.

The Spontaneous Connection

In the video, an Albanian photographer, Arbiol Simoni, holding a professional camera approaches a sharp-looking Italian Army (Esercito Italiano) soldier standing guard beside an official military tent.

"You look amazing, can I take a photo of you?" the photographer asks.

The soldier hesitates momentarily, asking where the photographer is from. The moment the photographer replies, "From Albania," the soldier's professional guard drops, and a massive smile breaks across his face.

"I am Arbëresh," he proudly responds in fluent Albanian.

Understanding the Arbëreshë Heritage

The soldier's revelation shines a spotlight on a fascinating chapter of Albanian history. The Arbëreshë are an ethnic Albanian group that fled to Southern Italy in the 15th century to escape the Ottoman invasion following the death of Albania's national hero, Skanderbeg.

Remarkably, despite over 500 years of geographic separation from their homeland, this community has managed to preserve their identity completely intact.

Living History on Duty

A second, older soldier with glasses soon joins the interaction. When the photographer asks how long they have lived in Italy, the second soldier reveals that he was born in the country but raised in a traditional enclave village. He passionately describes the resilience of their heritage:

• The Language: They still fluently speak Arbërisht, an archaic, century-old dialect of the Albanian language.
• The Folklore: Generation after generation continue to perform traditional songs passed down from the Middle Ages.
• The Attire: Traditional clothing (Veshjet) remains fiercely preserved for cultural milestones and community celebrations.

A Gift of Remembrance

The interaction concludes with the photographer taking beautiful portraits of the two guards—named Tommaso and Arbiol. Using a portable phone printer, he instantly develops the physical prints right there on the street and hands them to the soldiers.

With firm handshakes and genuine gratitude, the men introduce themselves, bridging two separate countries through a shared ancestral lineage. The brief video serves as a powerful reminder that while empires fall and borders shift, cultural traditions—when carried with pride—remain completely unbreakable.