Santa Maria di Leuca, Italy

Santa Maria di Leuca lighthouse (and Corinthian Column)

We opted not to stay in Otranto as we needed to work on the outboard and only trusted the anchorage in settled weather.  So the next morning we set sail for Santa Maria di Leuca.  Historical references to this town date all the way back to the time of Thucydides and Virgil.  Santa Maria di Leuca is mentioned in Virgil's Aeneid.  While known for its imposing lighthouse that rises 47 meters from its position 102 meters above sea level, the town is also known as a town that St. Peter passed through during his travels in Italy. To honor that passage a Basilica was built up by the lighthouse.  Should you choose to go up the nearly 300 steps to the Basilica you can visit it and the lighthouse.  

Cross commemorating the passage of St. Peter

There are a few legends surrounding the town which was originally called just Leuca.  Later Santa Maria was added, as one legend has it that the Virgin Mary saved some boats from a storm here.  Hence, their devotion to Saint Mary.  In truth, the town was founded by some monks in the 1st century following the passage of St. Peter.  The legends are just legends.

 

Santa Maria di Leuca

No doubt Santa Maria di Leuca is a busy little town in the season, but we found a sleepy town.  April is a bit early for tourists.  We struggled to find someplace to eat, however we had a nice walk around the town while searching for an open restaurant. The marina itself is only good in settled weather and even then there is considerable swell.  We spent one night at the marina and the next night at anchor in the bay.  Our plan was to leave around 0500 for Crotone (a 70 nm passage) and it is easier to just pull up the anchor rather than departing from the marina in the dark.  

 

Talaria at Porto Santa Maria di Leuca

I like to think that we grow wiser as time goes by ... I don't know that its true, but I do like the thought.  In that regard, we are trying to make our way down to Sicily with the wind in our favor.  Bashing into waves and struggling to make progress against a heavy head wind is not our idea of a good sailing day.  We have a long day to reach Crotone, but will not linger there.  We will sleep late and then do another overnight passage to Catania in Sicily before the wind shifts.  And then we will slow down and rest a bit 😎.