The picturesque town of Santa Maria di Leuca is situated on the promontory region of Apulia which separates the Adriatic from the Tyrrhennian Sea. It is actually a frazioni of Castrignano del Capo.
Begin your day in the town centre at the stunning Basilica of Santa Maria de Finibus Terae and gradually weave your way through the pretty flower adorned streets of Santa Maria di Leuca.
A visible landmark of the town is the white 157ft tall lighthouse which overlooks the glittering sea. Set sail from the port here on a guided tour of some of the popular sea caves, carved out by the forces of the sea over many centuries.
The most popular of these includes the Grotto dei Giganti, Grotta del Drago and Grotto del Diavolo. The last one was named so because of an eerie legend describing it as the home of demons that made the chilling noise that rumbled from it! The noise in fact came from when the tide came into the cave and rapidly pushed air through the eroded holes in the rock.
Begin your day in the town centre at the stunning Basilica of Santa Maria de Finibus Terae and gradually weave your way through the pretty flower adorned streets of Santa Maria di Leuca.
A visible landmark of the town is the white 157ft tall lighthouse which overlooks the glittering sea. Set sail from the port here on a guided tour of some of the popular sea caves, carved out by the forces of the sea over many centuries.
The most popular of these includes the Grotto dei Giganti, Grotta del Drago and Grotto del Diavolo. The last one was named so because of an eerie legend describing it as the home of demons that made the chilling noise that rumbled from it! The noise in fact came from when the tide came into the cave and rapidly pushed air through the eroded holes in the rock.
