If there is one symbol you cannot miss when arriving in Santa Maria di Leuca, it is its lighthouse. It dominates Punta Meliso from over 100 meters above sea level and is one of the most important in Italy.

From the mainland it offers a breathtaking viewpoint, but it is from the sea that the lighthouse reveals its full grandeur. For those sailing offshore, that 47-meter white tower has always been a fundamental landmark—a signal of safety marking the end of the land and the meeting of the two seas.

Between the Lighthouse and the Basilica: the heart of Leuca

A few steps from the lighthouse stands the Basilica de Finibus Terrae. From the sea, it is immediately clear how these two structures mark the extreme edge of Puglia. Looking toward the coast, the view embraces the entire bay of Leuca, enclosed between the two promontories: Punta Ristola on one side and Punta Meliso on the other.

Why see it by boat?

From the square in front of the Sanctuary, the gaze looks downward, but from the boat the perspective is reversed. Seeing the cliffs of Punta Meliso rise straight from the sea up to the base of the lighthouse truly makes you understand why the ancients called this place “the end of the world.” It is the perfect spot for a souvenir photo, especially at sunset when the white stone of the lighthouse is illuminated by the light.