Beach Day
Italy does summer differently—and we’re all in.
The day after the wedding, we’re taking it slow and easy, at sun-drenched Marina di Felloniche. Picture this: linen sun umbrellas, crystal-clear sea lapping at the rocky shore—and you, stretched out on a lounger, spritz in hand.
The Lovely Simplicity of Italian Lido
Along the southern coast of Italy, the beach is not a break from daily life—it is daily life. The tradition centers on the lido, a beach club experience shaped by ritual: arriving late morning, claiming a sunbed, moving languidly between sea and shade, and grazing on seasonal fare. It’s unhurried, communal, and deeply Italian—less about spectacle, more about rhythm.
Our destination—Felloniche—offers a quieter kind of beauty. Sheltered and low-key, this stretch of coast has been a favorite of Merilin’s family for nearly twenty years, chosen not for its polish but for its ease. With rocky coves, sandy entries, and an unpretentious atmosphere, it’s the kind of place where the day unfolds without a plan.
There’s no scene here—just clear water, local families, and the soft clink of ice in glasses. A place to pause, to float, to exhale.
Day 2 Plan
When?
05.06.2025
Departure time?
11.00 sharp bus departure from Porta Napoli, Western edge of Lecce Old Town.
Arrival time?
12.00
Where?
Lido Marinelli, Marina di Felloniche, which has been hired out for the entire day.
What are we doing?
An easy day of sun, sea, and lounging.
A lounger has been reserved for each of you.
Please bring your own towel (or borrow one from your accommodation).
The bus is ready to take us all back at 17.00.
Food
A casual buffet of local snacks and salads will be laid for lunch, around 13.30.
Drinks
Bar is open as we arrive. We’ll offer soft refreshments as part of the buffet. The bar will most certainly be stocked with the below:
• Local rosé + white wine
• Beers
• Mojitos
Parking
TBC – we’ll update you closer to the time via Whatsapp Broadcast.
Amenities
Toilets & changing cabins are available at the lido.
Attire
Come dressed comfortable, this is a day for relaxing. Flip flops, shorts, sarongs, beach hats, and all that. Bring a hoodie just in case the temperature changes.
Swimming
Marinelli Lido is built on a rocky part of land and sea is accessible via several decks that descend into the sea. We recommend bringing a pair of rubber swimming shoes (which you can buy from Lecce, if you don’t own a pair). For those with small children, an inflatable will be also handy to bring along. There are also a lot of sea urchins here which we recommend watching out for - thankfully these are very easy to spot. Worth a mention, these are illegal to fish for without a license but there is a bar in Santa Maria di Leuca serving these from under the counter.
Trekking the Coast
If you are intending to explore the seashore outside of the Lido, which is beautiful yet wild, we recommend bringing appropriate shoes such as hiking sandals or trainers. The coast is composed of sharp rocks and flip flops will fail you without a doubt (we’ve learnt the hard way).
Santa Maria di Leuca
Just beyond the curve of the bay lies Santa Maria di Leuca, a town that has drawn summer visitors since the 19th century, when Italy’s newly prosperous bourgeoisie built eclectic villas along the water’s edge. These summer residences—still scattered throughout the landscape—reflect a mix of revival expressions, think Moorish, Gothic, Art Nouveau, and Classical influences, each façade a quiet testament to a moment in Italy’s architectural history. Their silhouettes, softened by sea air and time, remain part of what gives Leuca its distinct character.
But Leuca’s significance reaches further back. The Romans once referred to this place as de finibus terrae—“the ends of the Earth”, where land dissolves into sea and the known world gave way to the unknown. The name endures today, a poetic reminder of the town’s geographic and symbolic threshold.
At this very point, the Ionian and Adriatic seas meet, their currents folding into each other in an invisible exchange. Watching over them both is the Santa Maria di Leuca lighthouse, built in 1866 and standing at 48 meters, making it the second most important lighthouse in Italy, after Genoa’s famed Lanterna. It rises beside the Sanctuary of Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae, a destination for pilgrims since antiquity, perched above the sea like a sentinel.
If you're driving, it's well worth planning a stop in Leuca either before heading to the lido or as a sunset detour after the beach. The light at the end of the day stretches beautifully across the villas and the lighthouse steps—and the perspective from this edge of Italy is something quietly unforgettable.
M & J xx