Masseria Palane is, between the towns of Patù and Castrignano del Capo at the center of Capo di Leuca, the southernmost tip of Salento peninsula. Just 3 km we find ourselves in front of the crystal clear Ionian sea with the town of Felloniche and San Gregorio.
The main features of this beautiful area characterized by Mediterranean flora are typical of the place as the Alyssum of Leuca, thyme, myrtle and wild orchids and ancient monuments like the Church of St. Michael the Archangel dates back to 1564 and the monument messapico, the Centopietre, classified National Monument, dating back to ‘877.dc the church of St. John the Baptist little more’ late.
Not far away there is also the Adriatic Coast which, unlike the Ionica, is high and wild, characterized by towering cliffs overlooking the cobalt blue sea.
The elegant Santa Maria di Leuca is located just 3 km from the Masseria, reachable through a charming panoramic road characterized by terraced olive groves.
Here takes place the famous meeting of the two seas and, as the ancients said, the ”Finibus Terrae”, in fact the area of Leuca is the tip of the Italy. Not miss the wonderful boat trips to the ancient caves. Just 30 minutes away is the beautiful Gallipoli, ancient fishing town whose old town is connected to the mainland by a bridge of arches. Very beautiful the Cathedral in baroque style.
Not far away and easy to reach, we find the beautiful Otranto and the triumph of the Baroque in the historic Lecce.
Patù
Arriving in Patù means arriving at the extreme south of Capo di Leuca, a few steps from the sea, in an ancient and fascinating land. Treasures of the center are the Mother Church of San Michele Arcangelo, the patron saint of the town and the Church of San Giovanni, built in memory of a battle between Christians and Saracens. But what most characterizes the village and its ancient history is the Centopietre, a very particular monument of medieval origin built with stone blocks from a Roman mausoleum. Its appearance is that of a temple and, inside, divided into two naves, there are traces of Byzantine frescoes that probably date back to the 11th-16th century and depict thirteen saints of oriental origin.
SAN GREGORIO
Along the litoranean road that leads from Torre Vado to Santa Maria di Leuca, there is the small and enchanting Baia di San Gregorio, belonging to the municipality of Patù together with Felloniche.
The coast here is mainly rocky and slopes towards the sea becoming low at the point where the port of the Messapian era once stood. Along the ridge that slopes towards the sea and swimming in the seabed you can still see the slabs of what was once the port of the ancient city of Veretu. All around, an uncontaminated and wild nature contrasts with the blue of the sea that here takes on particularly bright shades of color.
PESCOLUSE
Pescoluse, all the charm of one of the most beautiful beaches in Puglia!
The expanse of white sand, the shallow waters and the islets that emerge from the water, the dunes covered with acacias and white lilies, make it one of the most popular and desired places in the entire province of Lecce. You can’t come to Puglia and not arrive in the southernmost South of Salento in Pescoluse. Here, where the beach is protected by splendid sand dunes and beautiful spontaneous vegetation that separates the crystalline sea from the rest of the world!
SANTA MARIA DI LEUCA
Puglia has always been a crossroads of peoples and cultures due to its natural geographical vocation to be a bridge between the West and the East. This is a characteristic that immediately catches the eye of the visitor who comes to Santa Maria di Leuca to witness from its promontory the embrace between two seas: the Adriatic and the Ionian. A hamlet of Castrignano del Capo in the province of Lecce, Santa Maria di Leuca is the southernmost tip of Salento and is striking for its colors and the unreal silence that surrounds the church to which it owes its name – first a sanctuary, now a basilica – also called Santa Maria De finibus terrae (of the end of the world), based on an ancient belief that considered it to be the edge of all emerged lands.
GALLIPOLI
Gallipoli is the “Beautiful City” with a double soul: the sun, the sea, the splendid coastline and the famous nightlife on one side, its historic center that has seen centuries of history on the other.
In the summer, the “Pearl of the Ionian” is ready to welcome thousands of visitors in search of blue sea, beaches full of charm and clubs open day and night. But even away from the classic summer season, tourists in Gallipoli are never lacking.
The city is divided into two distinct areas: the historic center, surrounded by Roman and Byzantine fortifications, stands on an island connected by a brick bridge to the so-called new village, the most recent part.
OTRANTO
Cultural Heritage of UNESCO since 2010, Otranto has fascinated visitors for centuries with its impressive castle overlooking the sea, the Alfonsina Tower and the ancient walls that surround the ancient village, the Norman cathedral with the famous floor mosaic, international excellence of Byzantine art. Get lost in the narrow stone streets, typical alleys, the windy squares and finally reach the sea.
