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Try just-caught fish in a seafront trattoria
As you’d expect from a seafront town, fish features heavily on the menus here. There’s all the seafood you could think of – be it swordfish, mackerel, octopus or squid. And lots of restaurants offer an al fresco, sea-view terrace for you to dine on. Those closest to the shoreline often come with staircases down to the water, as well, so you can take a post-lunch dip.Most people associate fjords with countries like Norway, but this hidden gem is found just 15 minutes’ drive from Santa Maria di Leuca. Unlike its Nordic equivalents, the Fjord del Ciolo is prime swimming territory. You can access the bright, turquoise waters via a staircase, or the more adventurous can jump in from the cliffs. If you don’t fancy a swim, you can simply admire the views from the bridge that spans the canyon.
Read MoreThe Cascata Monumentale was completed in 1939, at the end of the Puglia aqueduct. With a 120-metre drop and a length of 250 metres, the views from the top of the manmade waterfall are postcard-quality. And it’s just as good-looking from the bottom, too, since Mussolini ordered the relocation of a huge column from Rome, which now sits at the waterfall’s tip. But there’s a catch – water only cascades down the rocky hillside a few times a year, so make sure to call the tourist office ahead of time.
Read MoreThe sea caves here aren’t just full of history – you can swim and dive in them, as well. Boat tours from Santa Maria di Leuca’s marina will call at all the main ones. And the caves have their own, unique features. For example, one of them you can only access by diving through an underwater opening, while another’s home to a tiny, sandy beach inside.
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