Riva di Ugento Camping Resort

The rugged coastline around Santa Maria di Leuca (half an hour’s drive) is dotted with sea grottoes, which you can explore on a boat excursion. Climb up to the early 18th-century Santuario di Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae, atop a promontory where you can admire both the Adriatic and Ionian seas, which converge here. The spectacular Baroque architecture of Lecce (50 minutes) has earned this city the moniker of ‘Florence of the South’. Check out the ornate façade of the Basilica di Santa Croce, then go further back in time at the well-preserved Roman Amphitheatre, or take a shaded breather at the elegant Giardini Pubblici Giuseppe Garibaldi park. Those in need of a little pampering should head to Santa Cesarea Terme (55 minutes), a spa town known for its health-giving sulphurous waters. The town is dominated by the oriental-style dome of Palazzo Sticchi, a faux Moorish palace built in the late 19th century.