ASIANOVERLAND.NET WINTER EUROPEAN DAY 16/189:  LECCE TO SANT MARIA DI LEUCA, ITALY

“DAY 16, 27/12/80 LEUCA (SOUTH ITALY YOU FOOL!)

VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

“FISHING” AT BRINDISI

X MARKS THE SPOT WHERE CHRIS LOST THE BALL”

Unfortunately, there’s a problem with ferries in Europe, and today’s no different, as we can’t fit on the ferry we booked from Brindisi to Corfu, so we head further south to Punta Meliso promontory, the southeastern extremity of Italy — the lowest point of the geographical "heel" of the Italian peninsula, and the meeting point of the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea.

The main city en route south is Lecce, which existed at the time of the Trojan War, and was conquered by the Romans in the 3rd century BC. Under the emperor Hadrian (2nd century AD) the city built a theater and an amphitheater (which are still in use) and was connected to the Hadrian Port.

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Lecce was sacked by the Goths  in the Gothic Wars. It was restored to Roman rule in 549, and remained part of the Eastern Empire for five centuries.

After the Norman conquest in the 11th century, Lecce regained commercial and political importance. The County of Lecce was one of the largest in the Kingdom of Sicily from 1053 to 1463.

From the 15th century, Lecce was one of the most important cities of southern Italy. In the 16th century, to protect Lecce from invasion by the Ottomans, a new line of walls and a castle were built by Charles V (who was also Holy Roman Emperor). From 1630, Lecce was enriched with precious Baroque monuments.

Santa Maria di Leuca is famous for its iconic lighthouse, with a height of 47 metres, and positioned 102 metres above sea level. Next to the lighthouse is the large Sanctuary, or Basilica, De Finibus Terrae ("End of the Land", 1720-1755), built to commemorate the passage of St. Peter here during his travel to Italy. It is devoted to Saint Mary (from whom the town gets the name Santa Maria di Leuca). It lies on the former site of a Greek temple dedicated to Athena.

Santa Maria di Leuca was founded in the early 1st century AD by monks, after Saint Peter's passage. A cross was built in his honour. According to a later legend, Virgin Mary once saved some boats from a storm, and her name was added to that of Leuca.

The best way to depict food in the 1st century AD, is the Roman snack bar uncovered at Pompeii (pictured), which looks like it would have in 79AD, when Mount Vesuvius erupted, leaving the food, wine, duck, chickens, beans  and menu largely intact.

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