Alcamo, Arab heart and sardines

Alcamo is a town of almost 44,800 inhabitants in the province of Trapani, located 45 km east of the capital in the center of the Gulf of Castellammare at 256 m. SlM at the foot of Mount Bonifato, 9 km away from the Tyrrhenian coast to the north, on which the hamlet of Alcamo Marina has as its outpost. Already a settlement in the Mesolithic, the first inhabited center arose as a Greek colony with the name of Longuro, which expanded in Roman times. In the second half of the 9th century the territory was occupied by the Arabs and the name of al-Qamah was attributed to the center, from which the current name derives. The city was then Norman, Swabian and Aragonese dominion in various periods of which it retains traces of considerable historical importance. The tourist attractions of the historic center, built on a core of travertine used as the building stone of the village, are innumerable. The symbol of the city is undoubtedly the Castle of the Counts of Modica, dating back to the fourteenth century, in Gothic-Catalan style, which has as its peculiarity the four towers, each with a specific function, presenting alternating round and square shapes. The testimony of the Muslim past is constituted by the Fountain of San Vito, Arab, dating back to around 1150, still in operation. Also of great importance are the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, or Mother Church, built in 1332, in Gothic-Catalan style, the fifteenth-century Palazzo De Ballis, from 1200, in Spanish-Gothic style, the oldest stately building in Alcamo, and , outside the inhabited center, the Castle of Calatubo, from the Middle Ages today in a state of decay and being recovered. Beyond the history, the city is currently a renowned seaside resort, with visitors attracted by the beauty of the crystalline sea and the 10 km long beach of Alcamo Marina, set in the enchanting landscape of the gulf, surrounded in its western stretch by wild nature and uncontaminated nature reserve of the Zingaro. The typical cuisine is characterized by dishes with strong and unmistakable flavors such as Macaroni with sardines and wild fennel, Pasta with sausage, dried tomatoes and cauliflower and as a dessert the Cuddureddi Sciù, a typical dessert based on must, almonds, peel toasted orange and honey.