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Frazione of Italy
Photo: Isiwal, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Santa Maria di Leuca (Sicilian: Lèviche) is a village of the Apulia region in Italy. It belongs to the municipality of Castrignano del Capo and represents the southernmost inhabited centre of the region.
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Built on the site of an ancient pagan temple dedicated to Minerva, on the promontory where Saint Peter landed on his way to Rome. The first Christian church dates back to 59 AD. and it was repeatedly destroyed by Saracens and Turks, to be rebuilt in the actual form in 1755. The Basilica was visited by Pope John Paul II in 1990 and by Benedict XVI in 2008.
Faro
It is tall 48,6 meters (159 ft) and reach a total height of 102 meters (335 ft) above the sea level. It is the southernmost lighthouse of Apulia and one of the most important of Italy, due to its position between the Ionian and the Adriatic Sea. The structure has 254 steps and it is open to the public by appointment, only on certain days.
Church of Christ the King
The construction started in 1896 but it wasn't open to worshipers until 1935. The church features a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, with notable mosaic floor and rose window.
Beautiful 19th-century palace with elements of Classical and Moorish architecture, now a 4-star hotel.
Cave of the river
A crystal-clear water acts as an entry to a system of communicating grottoes that you can explore by foot. It takes this name from an above small ravine that pours rainwater during the autumn.
Cave of the Three doors
Maybe the most famous one in the area; takes its name from the fact that it has three arches as doorways.
Cave of the Lovers
Swim in the 6-m-deep (19 ft) waters of the Ionian sea and pass under a doorway, reaching an enchanting grotto full of sand, where you can easily walk on. Inside of that you will find a sort of "playground" with different minor caves and two points to climb on the ceiling and diving into the water without any risk. The name if due to the same ceiling, that resembles the shape of a heart.
Excellent restaurant specialized in seafood, as well as a cafe facing the promenade.
Seafood restaurant with set menu and a good price performance, famous in the area for the quality and the abundance of the dishes served.
Excellent ice cream and pastries in one of the various Martinucci shops in the province.
Luxury club well known also outside the regional borders, especially for its unique location overlooking the Adriatic Sea. It also hosts a restaurant, parties, events and weddings.
Lounge bar on the beautiful promenade, with restaurant and bathhouse.
Great aperitifs in one of the most appreciated cafes in Leuca. It is in the centre of the village but quite far from the most busy streets.
4-star sea-view hotel with 52 rooms+1 suite and pool
4-star hotel in an elegant and modern building on the seafront, with 60 rooms and pool
30 parking spaces for campers and caravans in an area equipped with bathrooms, showers, bus shuttle service, WiFi. It is a few steps from the rocky coast to the west of Leuca, in an excellent location to explore the numerous sea caves. The structure is open from Easter to mid-October, with fares from €15 to €50, depending on the period and the chosen services.
4-star hotel with 38 rooms in six structures covered with local stone, in the middle of the quiet countryside and with a large open air pool surrounded by olive trees.
Villa with swimming pool, panoramic sea view and private garden. 6 sleeps, 3 bedrooms, about 1 km from the sea.
By car
Many streets are one-way and road signs can be difficult to understand (a trick of the municipality to earn money thanks to the fines), so if you choose to drive in the central area of the village…
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Brindisi · International · BDS
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