Marsala

Marsala,  is located on the open sea front of Cape Boeo. The city takes its name from the Arabic Marsa-al-Allah, harbour of God.

Julius Caesar in 47 BC pitched camp here on his way to Africa.  Cicero called Marsala civitas splendidissima, the splendid city.

It was here that Garibaldi kicked off his campaign to unify Italy on May 11th. 1860.  Known as the risorgimento, he began the struggle to oust the Bourbons, in the company of his red-shirted thousands.”

It has given its name to the famous dessert wine that is produced in the vineyards situated around the city. The wine trade was founded by John Woodhouse in 1773. Marsala’s wine became popular in England as an alternative to madeira and port.

On he seafront the Stabilmento Florio, the most typical of the Marsala distilleries, most of which are set in bagli, that is walled estates.

Pasta with shrimp or squid are some of the dishes found on the menus in some of the trattorias. in Marsala.

This is a recipe given  to me by a small trattoria off the main square.

2 lbs of shrimp

1 lbs farfalle pasta. (bow ties)

3 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 lbs of wild mushrooms

2 cloves of minced garlic

pinch of red pepper flakes

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 cup capers

3 or 4 sliced cherry tomatoes

1/2 cup of raisins

Boil pasta and set aside.

Place olive oil in sauce pan along with the salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, minced garlic, capers, until the mushrooms are tender.

Add the sliced tomatoes, and shrimp until they turn pink.

Combine the mushroom with shrimp, garlic, raisins, and capers and mix with the pasta.

If the pasta looks dry, and a half cup of water from the cooked pasta.

Serve with a white dry wine,  I suggest a Pino Grigio