The beach at a glance
Coast of rocks and cliffs below the Leuca lighthouse, with no sand: you get into the water from the rock, in the coastal park.
- Type of coast
- Mixed
- Rocks 1,140 m
- Cliff 1,516 m
- Length
- 2,655 m
- Water quality
- Excellent · classification 2024
- Off season: latest samples of the 2026 season
- Latest samples:
- Thu 9 Jul: within limits
- Thu 11 Jun: within limits
- Thu 14 May: within limits
- Sun 19 Apr: within limits
- Protected area
- Parco naturale regionale Costa Otranto-S.Maria di Leuca e Bosco di Tricase
- Natura 2000 network
- ZSC Costa Otranto - Santa Maria di Leuca (IT9150002)
About the beach
Punta Meliso is the headland on which the lighthouse of Santa Maria di Leuca stands, on the eastern side of the bay. There is no sand here: about two and a half kilometres of coast between low rocky shore and stretches of cliff, where you get into the water straight from the rock. You will need water shoes and a little care at the highest points.
Overlooking the rocky shore are the lighthouse, first lit in 1866, the basilica of Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae and the monumental waterfall of the Acquedotto Pugliese, which ends in the sea. A little further on is the marina of Leuca, and along the coast to the west opens the bay with its seafront and villas.
One car park is a few steps away and others a little further on. The coast faces south-east: with north (tramontana), north-east (grecale), south-west (libeccio), west (ponente) and north-west (maestrale) winds it is sheltered, while with east (levante), south-east (scirocco) and south (ostro) winds the sea gets rough. The stretch lies within the Costa Otranto-Santa Maria di Leuca e Bosco di Tricase regional nature park, where the park's protection rules apply. It is part of the Costa Otranto - Santa Maria di Leuca Natura 2000 site.
On the map
Stretch of beach
Events nearby
In the coming days within 5 km.
No events within 5 km in the coming days.
Things to see nearby
Museums and theatresMuseum in Salento - Museo Vito MeleBorn from the love of art by the sculptor Bito Mele, the Museum in Salento-
Museo Vito Mele in Castrignano del Capo is a treasure chest of work signed
by nationally renowned authors. Castrignano del Capo very close
Churches and cryptsBasilica of Santa Maria de Finibus TerraeA fascinating sanctuary on the southernmost tip of the Salento, the
Basilica of Santa Maria di Finibus Terrae stands on the spectacular Capo di
Leuca promontory. Castrignano del Capo very close
Castles, towers and palacesLighthouse of Santa Maria di LeucaAn appealing tower perched dropping sheer into the sea on Punta Meliso. Castrignano del Capo very close
FunCascata monumentale dell’Acquedotto PugliesePuglia’s extreme tip is celebrated through a unique monument, overlooking
the exact spot where the land ends and the infinity of the sea begins. Castrignano del Capo very close
Sea and cavesSanta Maria di LeucaIn Santa Maria di Leuca there is a tourist fishing port protected by a three-armed breakwater. Castrignano del Capo very close
Sea and cavesSanta Maria di Leuca BeachOld “bagnarole”, sandy beaches and caves with water springs: the beach of
Santa Maria di Leuca offers magical bathes in Finibus Terrae. Castrignano del Capo 1.4 km away
Beaches nearby
- Rocks and cliffsSanta Maria di LeucaCrescent bay below the Leuca seafront: rocks, two small sandy beaches, the bagnarole and free stretches between the beach clubs.5 beach clubs Excellent water Natura 2000 Castrignano del Capo · Ionian 1.9 km away
Rocks and cliffsLitorale di Gagliano del CapoAlmost five kilometres of cliffs between the Ciolo and Santa Maria di Leuca, with no beaches or beach clubs, in the coastal park.Free Excellent water Protected area Gagliano del Capo · Adriatic 2.6 km away
MixedPunta RistolaCoast of rocks and cliffs from Punta Ristola towards Torre Marchiello, with pale rock and sea caves: no sand and no beach clubs.Free Excellent water Natura 2000 Castrignano del Capo · Ionian 2.7 km away- SandMarina di FellonicheSeaside spot between Leuca and San Gregorio: low rocky shore with a sandy stretch of about 300 metres, almost all free.Free · beach clubs Excellent water Natura 2000 Castrignano del Capo · Ionian 4.8 km away
Sources and licences
The data comes from public sources; before swimming check the signs and the town’s bathing ordinances.
- ARPA Puglia – Monitoraggio delle acque di balneazione (CC BY 4.0)
- Regione Puglia – Aree di balneazione e classificazione 2024 (CC BY 4.0)
- Regione Puglia – Piano Regionale delle Coste (SIT Puglia) (CC BY 4.0)
- © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0)
- Regione Puglia – Parchi e riserve naturali (rev. 11/2022) (CC BY 4.0)
- Regione Puglia – Perimetrazione dei siti Natura 2000 (12/2023) (CC BY 4.0)
- Wikimedia Commons (foto: autore e licenza su ogni foto) (CC0, PD, CC BY, CC BY-SA)
- Wind forecast: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0).
- Photos: Bernard Gagnon, CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Photos: Nubifer, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Photos: Isiwal, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Photos: Ruben Holthuijsen, CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Photos: Francesco Fersino, CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Photos: Francesco Fersino, CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Photos: Francesco Fersino, CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Photos: Patrick Nouhailler's…, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Photos: Carlo Pelagalli, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Photos: Patrick Nouhailler's…, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Data updated: Sunday, 25 October 2026.