Sea caves, age-old architecture, and a sandy beach.
Town between two seas
You’ll find Santa Maria di Leuca – or Leuca – right at the tip of Italy’s heel, where the Adriatic Sea meets the Ionian. Puglians have been flocking here since the start of the 20th century – you’ll see evidence of this in the colourful Art Nouveau villas sprinkled along the waterfront. What’s more, the seaside town has a couple of other shout-about features, including a manmade waterfall and a striking lighthouse.
Cliff-defined coast
Leuca’s craggy shoreline has been the inspiration for several artists, including the Roman Poet, Virgil. He described the dramatic cliffs punctuated with grottoes – one of which is shaped like a dragon. You can easily see them all on a boat trip. Plus, there’s a sandy swathe in the heart of the town, and you can reach the patches at Posto Vecchio, Torre Vado and Pescoluse within 15 minutes’ drive.