Santa Maria di Leuca Travel Guide

It is the point where the land finishes, the lowest point on the 'heel' of Italy's boot. Italy is already a peninsula, and Apulia, set on the Salento Peninsula, is a peninsula within a peninsula where it is possible to watch the sun rise over the Adriatic Sea and set over the Ionian Sea.

Some believe a big white line marks the point where the two seas meet and indeed, if you stand on the viewpoint just behind the Santa Maria of Finibus Terrae Sanctuary, there really is a visible line, just where the last rock finishes. It may not be white but we like to think it is made from the waves, currents and the differences in the two seas coming together.

Scientists and marine geologists would like to cast doubt on this phenomenon suggesting that perhaps this is just an illusion, and maybe they are right, but who knows? Or maybe is it just God playing an entertaining trick on us....

What to see and do

1. Church of Santa Maria di Finibus terrae
2. Old picture of the Madonna (inside of the Church)
3. Strange line effect between Adriatic and Jonian Sea
4. Nineteenth century Villas along the seafront
5. The dead man tower
6. The Church of Cristo Re
7. The Centopietre complex in Patù
8. Explore the Zinzalusa Grotto in Castro Marina
9. Church of Madonna della Croce of Casaranello
10. Visit Otranto

Events
May
The city is very much renowned for its imaginatively styled villas that date from the 800s. Running along the sea front, the villas are now home to hotels and restaurants although some remain private residences. Unfortunately these are not open to the public except for the 'Ville in Festa' event, or the 'Festival of Villas', which is held on the first Sunday in May.
August
A key event in the religious calendar is the 'Festa della Madonna', celebrated every year on August 15th. An effigy of the Madonna is carried along on a procession of boats to remember the time of a tremendous storm in the 16th century when it is believed that the Madonna intervened to ensure the safety of the boats and fishermen of Leuca.

Local food and drink

June and September is the time of local food festivals in the small neighbouring villages with very similar sounding names that surround Leuca: Alessano, Melisano, Ruffano, Taurisano, Castrano, Monesano, Lucugnano… (The suffix -ano comes from the times when Roman legionnaires were conquering land on behalf of the Empire, and as a result, naming places after themselves. For example, the land of Gaio became Gagliano del Capo, and so on....). Just some of the highlights include:
25 August - the Fried Fish Festival, Castro
10-12 August - the Snail Festival , Cannole
5 and 6 of July - The Frisa di Matino Festival (a kind of local bread dish)
21 July - Anguria di Melpignano ( a celebration of watermelons)
There are at least three local celebrations a week during this period celebrating everything from peppers, to fish, oil, pasta, bread, artichokes and wine, giving visitors the perfect opportunity to try local cuisine complete with fireworks, wine, and traditional local dancing.
Local Wine
Leuca is in the midst of the wine producing region of Negroamaro, a red grape grown almost exclusively in Apulia, particularly in Salento. The wine takes its name from both the Latin and the Greek for black, Nero and Maru respectively.

Spotlight on Santa Maria Sanctuary

As often happens in places full of interest and geographical importance this strip of land was celebrated with the building of a Basilica whose origins have been a little lost over time. We do not know for sure who built it but we do know that in ancient times, on this same place, a temple was built in honour of the Roman Goddess of Minerva.
According to local legend, St Pietro disembarked at Leuca on his journey to Rome, and at the moment that this first disciple of Christ, Peter, touched the ground, the ancient pagan temple started trembling and then crumbled to the ground. In fact the decay was more gradual than local folklore would suggest and today it is still possible to see memorabilia from these ancient times on display inside the sanctuary.
Its magnificent position has brought it luck both good and bad. It was partly destroyed by the Turks and by the Saracens, surviving at least 5 attacks. The current building dates from 500 with the help of the aristocratic Del Balzo family who donated a magnificent cloth depicting the Madonna, by Giacomo Palma Junion. Sadly the cloth fell victim to a fire in 600, although the fire was miraculously extinguished just before ravishing the faces of the Madonna and child, leaving fragments that are on display at the Grand Altar.

In the area:
Around 10km from Santa Maria di Leuca, it is possible to visit a fascinating place, the mysterious site of Centopietre di Patù. Although no one is sure, it is probably a monument in honour of a messenger, Giminano, slain by the Saracens in 877.The construction is unique in that it is made with 100 enormous stone blocks, which probably came from another even older monument dating back to Megalithic times.
To get here from Santa Maria di Leuca you need to go through Castrignano del Campo to Patù and follow signs to Centopietre and park in the Piazza. The monument is almost always securely closed but don't worry as you just need to knock at the door of the custodian's house and a local lady will come and open it up for you. If you cannot find the house, just ask a passer-by as here everyone knows everyone else!
Driving along the sunny roads of Salento you will find other authentic local treasures hidden away, for example, Casarano, or Casaranello to be precise (a district of Castano), where inside the Santa Maria della Croce Church, you can find precious Byzantine mosaics with their bright colours and depictions of fish, birds, fruit and decorative motifs.

How to get there
Santa Maria di Leuca is on the southern point of Apulia, beyond which it is not possible to go any further.
By air: The closest airport is Brindisi which is around 121 km away, or it is possible also to fly to Bari Palese, which is 246km away. Both airports offer some low cost budget airline services from across Europe, including Ryanair, Easyjet, TUIfly, as well as links to International Airports such as Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa . From here you will need to hire a car to continue the journey to Santa Maria di Leuca.
By car: Undoubtedly the best way to reach Apulia is by car, and it is well connected by motorway. Follow signs to Lecce and then proceed along the Statale 16 to Maglie, then the 275 to arrive in Santa Maria di Leuca.
Other: There is not a direct train connection. The nearest station is Gagliano del Capo, but connections from here are difficult. It is possible instead to take a bus connection from Lecce or Maglie.