After a few years he came back to his hometown, where he attended the school of Giovanni Gorgone, a well-known Anatomy teacher and full professor of Clinical surgery at the University of Palermo.
Enrico Albanese was also a close friend of Giuseppe Garibaldi, with whom he shared a lot of ideals and political aims; in fact he participated in the “Expedition of the Thousand” in 1860.
He also took part in the attempt to free Rome and during the “Aspromonte battle” on 29 August 1862 he was called upon to heal a severe wound on the foot of General Garibaldi.
We can recall his studies in epidermal transplantation, blood transfusion, preventive haemostasis in surgery and also the surgical procedures that he experimented, such as Astragalectomie and shoulder resection.
His grave is covered by a big tombstone made of a type of marble called “pietra di Caprera”, donated by Garibaldi as a sign of friendship and gratitude.