Santa Maria di Leuca has all the characteristics of a typical coastal resort of Salento, situated as it is, between the Ionian and Adriatic Seas. Leuca is to be found in one of the most enchanting areas of Salento and indeed of Puglia. The coastline here alternates between rocky stretches of coast, which are interrupted by small bays and inlets with sandy beaches. Your interest is piqued by the numerous grottos (principally reached by boat) and the natural marine life, a veritable paradise for those interested in diving holidays. The marina of Leuca offers holidaymakers an unforgettable panorama. In fact, Leuca is the ideal place for a holiday in Puglia with its many and varied shopping arcades and the sumptuous, colourful eighteenth century villas which front the esplanade and offer the visitor a spectacle of rare beauty. Santa Maria di Leuca also has the attraction of being a major city centre where you can find many sporting activities. Important to Salento and all of Puglia is the shrine of "Finis Terrae" which is located at the peak of a promontory and from which the entire town and surroundings, including the port of Santa Maria di Leuca can be seen. The column at the front of the shrine was built in 1694 under Laura Guarini of Alessano: and on it in marble is carved a relief of the Madonna. The lighthouse (at 50 m. tall) can be seen for many kilometres, in fact long before you reach the town itself. Nestled between two seas, the Adriatic and the Ionian, Leuca has all the characteristics of a typical fishing port with its income derived from the twin industries of fishing and tourism. The town came into being at the end of the Cretan age and was populated during the Phoenician and Greek ages, and this perhaps in some way explains the maritime relationship here between the Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean. Characteristics of the coast around Santa Maria di Leuca in Puglia Santa Maria di Leuca is situated at the extreme point of the Salento peninsula on the promontory of Punta Meliso. This area is noted for its rocky coastline interrupted by small bays and inlets with wonderful sandy beaches and natural grottos, the last being divided into "Ponente grottos" and "Levantine grottos".
