History tells that the Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Leuca has its roots in a pagan temple dedicated to the goddess Minerva: the Roman goddess of wisdom, strategy, and rationality, but also of the arts, craftsmanship, and war—understood as the defense of just causes. She was considered the protector of manual arts such as weaving and goldsmithing.
Legend has it that the first to land on this Finibus Terrae promontory (rising over 100 meters above sea level) was Aeneas. Later, in 43 AD, the Apostle Peter is said to have landed here and converted the temple into a Christian sanctuary dedicated to the Savior, which was later consecrated to Mary. The sanctuary building has been destroyed and rebuilt several times; the most recent reconstruction dates back to the 18th century under Bishop Giovanni Gianelli. The sanctuary was granted the title of Minor Basilica in 1990.
The column, built in 1694 by Filiberto Ajerbo d’Aragona, stands 10 meters high. The current marble statue dates to 1954 and depicts the Madonna offering the globe of the Earth.
