From Mikao Apartment to Santa Maria di Leuca, it takes only about 15 minutes by car. It is one of the easiest and most meaningful trips you can take during a holiday in Torre Pali: Leuca is not just a beach, but a place with a distinct identity, where the landscape changes completely compared to the sandy seaside towns of the Ionian coast and where every corner has something to tell.
It is famous for being the southernmost point of Puglia and Salento, the de Finibus Terrae, where, according to tradition, the Adriatic and Ionian seas meet. The very name of the town comes from the Greek leukòs, meaning white or bright, recalling how its pale coastline guided Greek sailors arriving from the East.
The heart of Leuca is best understood from above. On the promontory stands the Basilica of Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae, flanked by the 19th-century lighthouse, active since 1866, 47 metres high, with a visual range of 50 km, and by a panoramic terrace overlooking both coasts.
From here descends the monumental staircase of Leuca, made up of about 300 steps arranged over two flights, with the Waterfall of the Apulian Aqueduct running down the centre: an imposing work completed in 1939, over 250 metres long with a 120-metre drop, carrying the aqueduct waters down to the sea. The waterfall is only activated on special occasions, but the staircase can be walked freely and is well worth the effort.
At the foot of the staircase is the tourist harbour of Leuca, the departure point for boat trips. The seafront stretching between Punta Meliso and Punta Ristola is lined with eclectic and Art Nouveau villas built between the 19th and 20th centuries by noble Salento families: Villa Meridiana with its sundial, Villa Episcopo recalling oriental pagodas, and Villa Mellacqua with its Art Nouveau and Moorish style.
Walking among these residences is a way to understand what Leuca was like when it was an elite holiday destination.
The coast of Santa Maria di Leuca is mainly rocky, with a quality of sea that is hard to find elsewhere. The rugged coastline alternates with small sandy inlets and hides numerous sea caves, which can be explored by sea on boat trips.
From the harbour of Santa Maria di Leuca, tours of around three hours depart every day, taking visitors to discover the caves on both the Adriatic and Ionian sides: the Grotta della Vora, the Grotta delle Tre Porte, and many others accessible only from the sea.
For those who prefer sandy beaches, the beach clubs in Leuca near the town centre offer umbrellas, sunbeds, and dining services with fresh seafood cuisine.
About 9 km from Leuca lies the Ciolo: a spectacular fjord where cobalt-blue water cuts between sheer rock walls, with an iconic road bridge and a small pebble beach accessible by a staircase, ideal for snorkelling.
For those staying in one of the holiday apartments in Torre Pali at Mikao Apartment, Leuca is the perfect destination for a different kind of day: you do not go there to spend the whole day on the beach, but to see one of the most distinctive places in Southern Italy.
