THE CAPE OF LEUCA

- UGENTO
Some parts of the fortification of this Messapian town (one of the most important towns even after the Roman conquest) are still visible since they have not been destroyed by the inexorable and uncontrolled building expansion. To the east of the modern town is a part of the fortification that has been recently restored. It is also possible to visit the Town's Archaeological Museum where there are some interesting finds of the prehistoric, historic and Medieval period.

- I FANI (SALVE)
It is a particularly charming place thanks to the presence of ancient elements mingled with the typical countryside of the Salento, studded with trulli. It occupies an elliptical terrace to the south of the 17th century Masseria I Fani, on a little plateau crossed by the two branches of the Fano Canal, two kilometres from the Ionic coast. In addition to important traces of villages dating from the Bronze and Iron Ages, it is possible to see the remains of the imposing Archaic fortification whose entrance gate can be compared, in the whole region, only to that of Cavallino.

- LEUCA
Inside the courtyard of the well-known Sanctuary of S. Maria de finibus terrae are the remains of a fortified village dating from the Bronze Age. Towards the sea, in the direction of the western point of the Cape (Punta Ristola), it is possible to visit the Grotta Porcinara, an ancient sanctuary excavated in the rock with votive inscriptions of the Roman Imperial Age. On the extremity of the point is the Grotta del Diavolo (The Devil's Cave), where archaeological evidence of the Neolithic and Bronze Ages, relating to the cult, have been brought to light; an opening to the cave may be found on the highest part of the rock. The entire cave may be visited, with prudence, by descending the cavity and crossing through the cave to the other side.