In the year 43 before Christ the apostle Peter landed in the far strip of the land Terra d’Otranto starting his efforts to evangelize peoples of South Salento giving birth to the first sanctuary of Europe, De Finibus Terrae sanctuary at Santa Maria di Leuca. Main point of Christian world, the Sanctuary was stage and point of departure of pilgrimages from Canterbury to the three places of Christianity: Rome, the Holy Land and Santiago de Compostela connecting North Europe with the Mediterranean and the East.

“Cammino Leucadense” is the ancient route used by pilgrims during Middle Ages to reach Santa Maria di Leuca sanctuary and goes in the Salentine hinterland along the longitudinal axis linking ancient villages, chapels and small places for downtimes where pilgrims could have a rest and prayer. Faith led the early pilgrims and maybe some walkers that nowadays encourage to go through these ancient routes of faith.

Cammino Leucadense has been rediscovered in last years going the ancient route of faith. It is characterized by a 87 kilometres trail going through 18 towns and villages of the Salento area, along the so-called “Salentine Serre” (the local hills) and the old places of cult and welcoming along the same trail of many pilgrims to rediscover a new Salento, rich in worship places of extraordinarily beauty.