Jutting out into the sea between the two promontories of Punta Meliso and Punta della Ristola, stands Leuca — white and solemn — a symbol of legend and myth. In ancient times, this was the site of a temple dedicated to Minerva, located where the Sanctuary of Santa Maria De Finibus Terrae now rises. With the Christianization of the region, the temple was converted into a church and later into a sanctuary. According to local legend, Saint Peter landed here on his way back from the East.
Of Messapian origin, the town’s name has Greek roots, derived from “leuké”, meaning “white.” And white it appears to those arriving along the coastal road — dotted with small houses and elegant noble villas, with a myriad of boats and yachts moored in the harbor. Leuca was already inhabited during the Paleolithic era; countless prehistoric remains have been discovered along the coast, in caves, and in the countryside, indicating their use as dwellings or sacred places. Many of the coastal caves were used for worship in pre-Christian times.
The sanctuary was destroyed many times by raiders seeking to claim these lands. It was burned and plundered by the Turks, Arabs, Franks, and Saracens. When the Normans established control over southern Italy, they rebuilt the sanctuary. However, in 1480, during the Sack of Otranto, the Turks again seized Leuca and its sanctuary, which was later rebuilt under the Orsini del Balzo dynasty. In the 16th century, Turkish pirates destroyed it once more. The sanctuary was rebuilt in its present form in 1720.
The Sanctuary of Leuca was built in 43 AD, as confirmed by an inscription located inside the building. According to popular tradition, it was Saint Peter himself who placed the cross of Christ in the church and celebrated the first mass there. The central altar is a fine example of 18th-century art, made of marble and featuring an image of the Virgin Mary at the top.
Of particular importance is a painting by Giacomo Palma, a 16th-century disciple of Titian. Outside the sanctuary, in the center of the square in front of the church, stands a 17th-century column, about 10 meters high, topped with a statue of the Virgin Mary commissioned by the Aragonese Duke of Alessano.
Leuca is also enriched by numerous villas built along the coast and on the surrounding hills. These villas reflect the town’s history as a preferred summer destination for the wealthiest families of Salento, who chose Leuca for their holiday residences. Most of them were built in the second half of the 19th century by engineers and architects experimenting with a wide variety of exotic styles — from Moorish to pseudo-Egyptian, Chinese, Pompeian, and Gothic.