Guided Tours in Leuca
Itinerary at the Edge of the Land
Private tour or for organized groups
Tour Description
Leuca is the destination of a tour reaching the southernmost tip of the Salento peninsula, as pilgrims have done for centuries on their way to the Sanctuary of Santa Maria ‘de Finibus Terrae.’
The origins of the Sanctuary date back to the early days of Christianity. Tradition tells that Saint Peter landed at Santa Maria di Leuca and that the sacred building was constructed over a former pagan temple dedicated to the goddess Minerva. Perched dramatically on the Punta Meliso promontory, the Sanctuary, after numerous reconstructions, appears more like a fortress than a place of worship.
In the square of the Sanctuary, the white silhouette of the Lighthouse serves as a valuable reference for sailors rounding the Leuca cape. Not far from here is a viewpoint overlooking the entire inlet, from the Leuca marina to Punta Ristola. A double staircase flanking the Monumental Waterfall of the Apulian Aqueduct connects the sanctuary area to the Leuca tourist port.
The seafront is lined with splendid 19th-century villas where Neo-Gothic blends with Moorish and other eclectic architectural styles. Built close to the coast with characteristic ‘bagnarole’ and set in large parks and gardens, these villas soon became status symbols for the aristocratic bourgeoisie of Puglia.
As in other Salento seaside towns, between 1943 and 1947, the Allies and UNRRA requisitioned villas and seafront houses in Leuca to host and provide transit for Jewish refugees who survived the Holocaust.
WHAT WE WILL VISIT
-
Sanctuary of Santa Maria ‘de Finibus Terrae’
-
Belvedere and Monumental Waterfall of the Apulian Aqueduct
-
Seafront
-
Eclectic villas
-
Punta Ristola
ADDITIONAL INFO
-
Optional boat excursions along the two coasts of Salento
MEETING POINT WITH THE GUIDE
Piazza Giovanni XXIII, 73040 Santa Maria di Leuca, LE
DURATION
2 hours
INFORMATION & BOOKINGS
Call to +39 320 7610467
Email us to info@bestguidedtours.com