“Illuminated by the sun”: this is how the Greeks called this piece of land facing the sea on the edge of the Apulian border. Santa Maria di Leuca is undoubtedly one of the favorite destinations in Puglia and not only for its crystal clear sea.
Lighthouse Leuca | Salento | PugliaHere the land ends and then there is only the sea, here we perceive a sense of infinity that makes us realize how small we are in this universe, here we understand the beauty of what surrounds us, you just need to know how to look.
A legend tells that here the Siren Leucasia found peace and tranquility and made it her home. In Santa Maria di Leuca the chaos of the city seems light years away, especially if you decide to stay in a villa in the middle of the countryside, from where, perhaps, you can see the sea.
Villa Demetra, a luxury villa not far from the marina, ensures this mystical contact with the territory “at the end of the earth”, and will make your stay more intense and unforgettable.
Pool | Villa Demetra | Leuca
Living Room | Villa Demetra | LeucaSanta Maria di Leuca is not only famous for its sea: its history is of great interest as well, which dates back to ancient times.
On the promontory of Punta Meliso, which today houses the Basilica of Maria de Finibus Terrae, stood a temple dedicated to Minerva. The temple was Christianized by Peter, the apostle when he arrived in Italy.
Leuca is a bridge between East and West: here stopped the Cretans, the Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Messapians and the Latins.
For centuries it has been only a meeting place for fishermen, while since 1800 it has become an elite tourist destination, and, up to the present day, it maintains this important economic status.
As in all the Salento area, folklore is the foundation of everyday life, it tells the farmer soul, made of simple and repetitive gestures, marked by the cycle of the sun and the moon.
In mid-August, during the celebrations of the Assumption of Our Lady in Heaven “, on the 14th the statue of the Virgin is led to the church of Christ the King. From here, the 15th, it will cross the whole village, in a procession known as “l’intorciata”: A sea of torches light up the path to the sea, where a fishing boat welcomes the statue of the Madonna and it takes it into the sea. This ritual begins the procession that follows the Madonna in the water on the fishing boat, with bands and boats. Once at the marina of San Gregorio the procession ends. Here, until late at night, pyrotechnic fires await.
Touristic Port | LeucaWhat are you waiting for then? Book your dream here in Santa Maria di Leuca. Choose a luxury villa like Villa Demetra and enjoy this piece of land that flows into paradise.
Let’s not forget the gastronomy: even the most discerning palates will be pleased, maybe with one of the many experiences like a cooking class that will allow you to bring home everything you have learned and bring it back home to share with friends.
It is true that the earth ends here, but the emotion begins.
