The typical coast line of South of Puglia. Here we are at Santa Maria di Leuca, the lowest point of the geographical “Heel” of Italian Peninsula.
About 3 hours of car ride down south from Beppe’s home, Bitonto, We are here at Santa Maria di Leuca, the very final point of Italy, the very tip of the heel of Italy and also the meeting point of the waters from Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea. Is that why the reason the water looks particularly gorgeous here? Or is that just Italy is the land that much blessed with rich soil and sun, and enviously beautiful ocean and the ocean life… Anyway you will see this most gorgeous view of Ionic ocean from literally any point of the town of Santa Maria di Leuca and along the coast of the Southern Puglia.
Here I like to show you the map of Puglia so you have a good idea where we are traveling through this time!
The green dots show where we are starting and where we will end at through this trip. Bari is the main airport we had landed also because of our friend Beppe’s Home, Bitonto is literally 10 minutes away from there and Beppe and Dani are on this trip with us for the first 3 days. 2 years ago we had already traveled through “Brindisi” area such as Alberobello, Ostuni and all as you can see in this map. So if you go on a main highway from Bari, it would take about 3 hour car ride to get to the very final tip of Italy, Santa Maria de Leuca! We are now based here for 5 nights and 6 days to travel through by running, swimming, boating and dinning at near areas and planning to drive through and do town hopping and snapping pics of the most gorgeous coast line of Puglia.
Let’s start with the town of Leuca! No this is not where we stayed at but this was one our favorite typical Italian home in the town. The warm yellow wash and perfectly placed 2 palms and the most beautiful garden just melted our hearts. Apart from Olives, Cypress and Pines are maybe the 2 best known trees when it gets to Tuscan area but down here in south, you will see more of Palms and all different kinds of palms. And exotic Fig trees and tons of Oleanders, ” The” flower tree you may call Italy’s National flower trees through out the country. That’s Gael on the front!
Rundown but gorgeous. As Leuca actually means ” White” in old Greek language, you can see white washed homes dominate the town.
I realize any hot weathered places share one thing in common. Simple lines in Architecture. Despite of strong presence of Baroque style down in many parts of south of Italy such as Lecce and Sicily, you can see majority of homes of public are built in simple lines as in Yucatan Mexico or Greek.
A small beach front right in the heart of the town of Leuca. Whenever passing by the beach in the morning, I felt like I was in one scene of old Italian Movie. Sofia Lauren running into Marcello Mastroianni! Also Bit San Tropez..? Did we swim here? Naaa, wait for something better. Much much better!
More palms in town.
Now we are in the car hunting the perfect spot to swim and spend all day in the ocean. 5 minute ride from our base in Leuca, we find a nice big parking lot in front of this cute Trattoria. Also great for after swim Apperitivo!
Approaching the tip of coast line. Dying to know what’s ahead of us!
What else do you really need?!!!!
Need a throw down with Caribbean ocean!
With our Casarosa’s adventurous spirit, No rocky cliff is hardly any obstacle for us! Gael well trained by Emi in Livorno, we are just 2 seconds away from climbing down and jumping into to this sweet gorgeous ocean!
Yeap! That’s my 8 year old son Gael from NYC! I mean who would think he’s from the middle of the crazy city? Gael fits right in with tough locals!
In the water with Dad. Gael earned a nick name during this summer: Il Lupo di Mare. The Wolf of Ocean!
From left, Beppe, Gael, Emi and the far right, Dani. Did I swim too? Of course!!
Now the 4 boys from Rome.
They are showing us off Sea urchins they collected. They said they would it raw with a piece of bread.
We loved it all. We loved it so much, the next day, we had rented out a small boat for 7! Now Gigi, Beppe’s brother and Vivianan, Gigi’s girl friend had joined us for today’s adventure! Captain Emi launching the boat!
Yeah!!!!
Gigi and happy Gael!
Approaching one of million caves along the coast!
It reminds me of Cenotes in Tulum!
Viviana and me.
Sail, stop, swim, lunch, prosecco and sail, stop, swim , snack, prosecco. Now repeat !
Beppe and Dani. What a hard life we live..!
The Light House of Santa Maria di Leuca. The second most important light house of the entire Italy after the one in Genova.
Going home…
Special thanks to Captain Emi, the man capable of so many things in every way. I love you so much Emi! And Gael, my brave proud son who keeps up with anything and everything that is ahead of us. And dear friends carrying on amazing friendship that is becoming family-ship now… I love you all and thanks for the one of the most beautiful day of life…!
LOvE Puglia!!!
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Just a couple of senior citizens from Atlanta, georgia have traveled to Italy on three different occasions, seen all of the beauty that Italy has to offer but have saved this trip, to the most intriquing and beautiful part for last. Fly to Rome, treno to Bari and auto to the entirety of Puglia, with a one night stay in Leuca. A friend I met in Florida, who grew up in Milan, said that no trip to Apulia is complete without a stop in the wonderful commune of Leuca. So where do we find a nice place to mangia?
HI steve, You must go eat at Osteria Terra Masci: http://www.lacasapark.com/la/2011/09/where-do-you-eat-in-marina-di-leuca-at-osteria-terra-masci/
Ultimate food experience in puglia!