Santa Maria di Leuca historic centre
If you are planning your holidays and trying to decide where to go in Europe, Santa Maria di Leuca in Apulia should be at the top of your wish list.
With its whitewashed buildings, sunny skies, delicious traditional Salento cuisine and sapphire blue Adriatic and Ionian coasts. This city at the tip of the Salento peninsula in the Italian ‘heel of the boot’ is popular with Italians but still little known to most international visitors.
It also offers excellent value for money.
Within the Capo di Leuca region (the entire tip of the peninsula) the nine municipalities – Morciano di Leuca, Castrignano del Capo, Gagliamo del Capo, Alessano, Tiggiano, Salve, Corsano, Patu, Santa Maria di Leuca – offer a wealth of history, architecture, cuisine and attractions.
Here is a comprehensive guide to the best things to do in Santa Maria di Leuca and Capo di Leuca and why you should definitely visit them at least once in your life.
The Basilica of Santa Maria di Leuca
Santa Maria di Leuca is the southernmost tip of Apulia, where the Adriatic and Ionian Seas meet. Its position has meant that it has been important for thousands of years. The marked promontory contains an important lighthouse and the Basilica della Madonna de Finibus Terrae (‘End of the Earth’), a place of pilgrimage for centuries.
The Basilica was built on the site of the Roman Temple of Minerva. According to myths, the temple collapsed to the ground when St Peter landed here in Italy on his way to Rome. In mid-August, the statue of the Virgin Mary is taken from the Basilica and paraded through the streets. It is then placed on a specially built boat and taken along the coast to Marina San Gregorio. Afterwards, it is transported back to the basilica, completed by a spectacular fireworks display.
The Lighthouse
The landmark that identifies Santa Maria di Leuca for miles around is Il Faro, the lighthouse, octagonal in shape, almost 50 m high, more than 100 m above sea level. Built in the 1860s on the site of an earlier watchtower, it is still in use today and is one of the most important lighthouses in Italy.
The right position of the lighthouse looking out to sea and the column topped by a statue of the Virgin Mary looking inland gives this place a significant atmosphere when the weather is sunny, but even more so when the sea is rough and the sky threatening.
The Waterfall
Santa Maria di Leuca is also the culmination point of the Apulian Aqueduct; an immense engineering project running for almost a century. After numerous delays and setbacks, it was finally completed in 1941. Mussolini demanded a dramatic finish, so an artificial waterfall was built here in Leuca from which the aqueduct’s waters flowed, with a fake Roman column at the bottom and ramps of steps on either side. You can go up or down the steps – 300 of them.
The promontory where the basilica and the lighthouse are located is obviously very busy with visitors; there are several car parks but in the middle of summer it is better to visit the area on foot as the heavy influx of tourists makes the area very crowded. There is a bar where you can buy both drinks and food. The promontory overlooks the bathing area of Santa Maria di Leuca and its marina; the staircase along the waterfall is accessible to all.
The Church of Cristo Re
In the centre of Santa Maria di Leuca, in an enchanting location, is the Church of Christ the King, made of local carparo stone.The origins of the sacred building are not remote. The beginning of its construction dates back to the late 1890s, designed by engineer Giuseppe Ruggeri of Lecce.
This is the period in which the numerous and enchanting villas were built, almost all of them to designs by Engineer Ruggeri. Due to a combination of circumstances and, above all, a lack of funds, the church was completed forty years after the foundation stone was laid.
The temple, in Apulian Gothic style, consists of three naves, of which the central one is 30 metres long, the side ones 20 metres.
The width of all three is about 18 metres.
The 19th-century villas of Santa Maria di Leuca
The main period of development in Santa Maria di Leuca occurred in the years after 1874, when Giuseppe Ruggiero, a well-known engineer, bought some fields along the shore and decided to build a resort. He began by designing and building a villa for himself and his family: the Villa Meridiana, named after a sundial on the entrance gate; this is now an important historical feature on the seafront. He went on to design a series of villas for rich and fashionable clients, in all kinds of styles, including classical, Moorish and Renaissance. These, together with the promenade and belvederes built on the waterfront.
The Marina Caves
Santa Maria di Leuca is characterised by many sea caves hidden among the rocky parts of the coast, such as Grotta Porcinara and Grotta dei Diavolo. Boat trips are available from the seafront and marina (home to sailing and motor boats) to discover these and other features of the coast.
Santa Maria di Leuca MICHELIN restaurants
There are several excellent restaurants on the seafront, directly on the beach and at the water’s edge, as well as many other restaurants, trattorias and places to sample the excellent Salento cuisine within the town.
Although Leuca is located at the tip of the Salento peninsula and is a long way from most other places in Puglia, it is worth a visit, just to say ‘you’ve been there’. There is a dual carriageway to just south of Maglie. Getting there by public transport is a challenge! – we personally know that it can be done with planning and patience, anyone who needs more information/advice should contact us, we will be happy to assist you
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