Santa Maria di Leuca (Italy)

Santa Maria di Leuca (aka simply as Leuca) is a small town, harbour and marina cruise port in southern Italy's Lecce province. The settlement was founded by monks in early 1st century AD, following St Peter's passage here.

The town is famous for its 47-m high lighthouse - Italy's second most important lighthouse (after Genoa). Another popular tourist attraction is De Finibus Terrae - 18th-century Basilica devoted to St Mary and also commemorating Saint Peter's passage. The Sanctuary was built on the site of a Minerva-dedicated Roman temple. The church is connected to the harbour via 284-step staircase.

Here is also Italy's southeastern extremity and lowest point - Punta Meliso promontory. Also here meet the waters of Adriatic and Ionian seas. Since 2006, the town is part of Costa Otranto Regional Nature Park (also including Bosco di Tricase).

Off shore (southwest of Cape Santa Maria di Leuca), at approx 85 m (280 ft) of depth is the shipwreck of Pietro Micca - 1935-built Italian submarine that sunk here in July 1943. From its 58 crew survived only 18. The boat was torpedoed by HMS Trooper - 1942-built Royal Navy submarine. The british ship itself sunk in October 1943, damaged by German mines near Leros Island (Greece).

As cruise port, Santa Maria di Leuca is visited by smaller-sized luxury ships and often by mega-yachts. For 2020 were scheduled for calls the top-luxury yachts SeaDream 2 (July 1, August 26, Sept 23) and SeaDream 1 (August 1, Sept 10).