Postcards Around the World: 2012/11

2012-11-30

Ruins of São Miguel - Brazil (UNESCO)

RR PT G74, sent by "gracinha"

"The São Miguel das Missões mission was built between 1735 to around 1745. São Miguel das Missões was one of the many Spanish Colonial Jesuit Reductions in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia. Spanish Jesuit missionaries founded the mission for Crown mandated Indian Reductions (Christian converting) of the Guaraní Indians; and to protect the natives from the Portuguese slave traders known as the Bandeirantes.

The Treaty of Madrid in 1750 handed sovereignty over the area from Spain to Portugal and the Jesuit missions were ordered to move to the retained Spanish territory, west of the Uruguay River. The Guaraní tribes refused to comply with the order to relocate from their homelands, now deemed in Portuguese territory. This led to the Guarani War, and this mission's termination after a battle against a joint Portuguese-Spanish army, sent to enforce the newly realigned border between the two colonial powers.
The cathedral (Catedral Angelopolitana), built in the 1920s in nearby Santo Ângelo city, is modeled after the São Miguel das Missões reduction." In: Wikipedia

2012-11-29

Castle from Loire Valley - France (UNESCO)

unused, bought in Braga (Portugal)

Some of the castles from the Loire Valley: Azay-le-Rideau, Amboise, Chambord, Blois and Chenonceau.

"The Loire Valley is an outstanding cultural landscape of great beauty, containing historic towns and villages, great architectural monuments (the châteaux), and cultivated lands formed by many centuries of interaction between their population and the physical environment, primarily the river Loire itself." In: UNESCO

2012-11-28

DE-1563996 - Penguins

DE-1563996 sent by "arasim"

German: "Ich tröster! Bin euer" Jesaja 51,12

English (via Google Translate): "I confort! I'm yours" Isaiah 51,12

2012-11-27

Sydney Opera House - Australia (UNESCO)

unused, offered by "geminiscp"

"Inaugurated in 1973, the Sydney Opera House is a great architectural work of the 20th century that brings together multiple strands of creativity and innovation in both architectural form and structural design. A great urban sculpture set in a remarkable waterscape, at the tip of a peninsula projecting into Sydney Harbour, the building has had an enduring influence on architecture. The Sydney Opera House comprises three groups of interlocking vaulted ‘shells’ which roof two main performance halls and a restaurant. These shell-structures are set upon a vast platform and are surrounded by terrace areas that function as pedestrian concourses. In 1957, when the project of the Sydney Opera House was awarded by an international jury to Danish architect Jørn Utzon, it marked a radically new approach to construction." In: UNESCO

2012-11-26

Geneva - Switzerland

unused,

"Geneva is the second most populous city in Switzerland (after Zurich) and is the most populous city of Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Situated where the Rhone exits Lake Geneva, it is the capital of the Republic and Canton of Geneva. The municipality (ville de Genève) has a population (as of June 2012) of 192,385, and the canton (République et Canton de Genève, which includes the city) has 468,194 residents. In 2007, the urban area, or agglomération franco-valdo-genevoise (Great Geneva or Grand Genève in French) had 1,240,000 inhabitants in 189 municipalities in both Switzerland and France. The economic area "Great Geneva-Bern area" has 2.9 million inhabitants." In: Wikipedia

2012-11-25

Old town of Colmar - France

unused,

"Colmar (German between 1871–1918 and 1940–1945: Kolmar) is the third-largest commune of the Alsace region in north-eastern France. It is the seat of the prefecture of the Haut-Rhin department and the Arrondissement of Colmar.

The town is situated along the Alsatian Wine Route and considers itself to be the "Capital of Alsatian Wine" (capitale des vins d'Alsace). The city is renowned for its well preserved old town, its numerous architectural landmarks and its museums, among which is the Unterlinden Museum with the Isenheim Altarpiece." In: Wikipedia

2012-11-24

Map card of Portugal mainland (III)

unused

2012-11-23

Bridge over Adaja river and the Walls of Ávila - Spain (UNESCO)

unused, bought in Braga (Portugal)

"Founded in the 11th century to protect the Spanish territories from the Moors, this 'City of Saints and Stones', the birthplace of St Teresa and the burial place of the Grand Inquisitor Torquemada, has kept its medieval austerity. This purity of form can still be seen in the Gothic cathedral and the fortifications which, with their 82 semicircular towers and nine gates, are the most complete in Spain." In: UNESCO

2012-11-22

Gardens of Versailles - France (UNESCO)

unused, bought in Braga (Portugal)

"The Palace of Versailles was the principal residence of the French kings from the time of Louis XIV to Louis XVI. Embellished by several generations of architects, sculptors, decorators and landscape architects, it provided Europe with a model of the ideal royal residence for over a century." In: UNESCO

2012-11-21

Church of Our Lady of Pain in Paraty - Brazil (UNESCO tentative)

sent by "andreaeiko"

"The colonization of the Brazilian territory and the conquest of its backlands are reflected in the routes of Parati. In its explicit destiny, Parati became the first benchmark for trade along the Atlantic Forest's trails. Parati was a turning point and an interface between sea and land, a temporary or permanent point for extinct, absorbed or excluded races.

Ever since the Europeans first caught sight of Brazil in 1500, and especially of Parati's coast in 1502, the slopes of the so-called Serra do Mar – covered by the Atlantic Forest, which lies along with the Atlantic coast between the Brazilian plateau and the coastal plains – have been playing a critical role in Brazilian history." In: UNESCO

2012-11-20

Map card of Extremadura - Spain

sent from Portugal by Blicas Blocas

"Extremadura is an autonomous community of western Spain whose capital city is Mérida. Its component provinces are Cáceres and Badajoz. It is bordered by Portugal to the west. To the north it borders Castile and León (provinces of Salamanca and Ávila); to the south, it borders Andalusia (provinces of Huelva, Seville, and Córdoba); and to the east, it borders Castile–La Mancha (provinces of Toledo and Ciudad Real)

It is an important area for wildlife, particularly with the major reserve at Monfragüe, which was designated a National Park in 2007, and the project of the International Tagus River Natural Park (Terreno Natural Río Tajo Internacional). The government of Extremadura is called Junta de Extremadura." In: Wikipedia

2012-11-19

Kronborg Castle in Helsingör - Denmark (UNESCO)

unused, offered by "geminiscp"

"Located on a strategically important site commanding the Sund, the stretch of water between Denmark and Sweden, the Royal castle of Kronborg at Helsingør (Elsinore) is of immense symbolic value to the Danish people and played a key role in the history of northern Europe in the 16th-18th centuries. Work began on the construction of this outstanding Renaissance castle in 1574, and its defences were reinforced according to the canons of the period's military architecture in the late 17th century. It has remained intact to the present day. It is world-renowned as Elsinore, the setting of Shakespeare's Hamlet." In: UNESCO

2012-11-18

Narbonne Cathedral - France

unused, bought in Braga (Portugal)

"Narbonne Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Just-et-Saint-Pasteur de Narbonne) is a former cathedral, and national monument of France, located in the town of Narbonne. It is dedicated to Saints Justus and Pastor.

It was the seat of the Archbishop of Narbonne until the Archbishopric was merged into the Diocese of Carcassonne under the Concordat of 1801. (The title, however, passed to the Archbishop of Toulouse.) The church was declared a basilica minor in 1886.

The building, begun in 1272, is noted for being unfinished." In: Wikipedia

2012-11-17

DE-1492189 - Wismar historic center (UNESCO)

DE-1492189, sent by "lighthouse21"

"The medieval towns of Wismar and Stralsund, on the Baltic coast of northern Germany, were major trading centres of the Hanseatic League in the 14th and 15th centuries. In the 17th and 18th centuries they became Swedish administrative and defensive centres for the German territories. They contributed to the development of the characteristic building types and techniques of Brick Gothic in the Baltic region, as exemplified in several important brick cathedrals, the Town Hall of Stralsund, and the series of houses for residential, commercial and crafts use, representing its evolution over several centuries." In: UNESCO

2012-11-16

Senhora da Peneda waterfall in Arcos de Valdevez - Portugal

unused, offered by Sapic12

"Arcos de Valdevez is a municipality along the northern frontier of Portugal and Galicia (Spain), that incorporates a territory of 447.6 square kilometres (172.8 sq mi) and a total population of 24,466 inhabitants (2006). The municipality is composed of 51 parishes, and is the largest administrative unit of the district of Viana do Castelo." In: Wikipedia

2012-11-15

Map card of Sardinia - Italy

Sent by "carolisha"

"Sardinia (Italian: Sardegna, Sardinian: Sardigna) is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and before Cyprus) and an autonomous region of Italy. The nearest land masses are (clockwise from north) the island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Balearic Islands." In: Wikipedia

2012-11-14

Luther Memorials in Eisleben - Germany (UNESCO)

Sent by Katrim

"These places in Saxony-Anhalt are all associated with the lives of Martin Luther and his fellow-reformer Melanchthon. They include Melanchthon's house in Wittenberg, the houses in Eisleben where Luther was born in 1483 and died in 1546, his room in Wittenberg, the local church and the castle church where, on 31 October 1517, Luther posted his famous '95 Theses', which launched the Reformation and a new era in the religious and political history of the Western world." In: UNESCO

2012-11-13

"Veggie wins" (II), Tibits restaurant ad card - United Kingdom

A few months ago, I made a post about Tidbits Restaurant in London with one advertise card. Now I have the entire collection inspired by the Olympics!

Sent by Mónica Castro

An advertise card of Tibits Restaurant in London

Information on the card: "Everybody loves food. But only the very finest, delicious, healthy food can really love you back. An here at Tibits, that's what we do best. Tibits is a family business, founded by three brothers and Hiltl, the oldest vegetarian restaurant in Europe, since 1898 (Guinness World Records Book)."

2012-11-12

The D-Day - France

unused, bought in Braga (Portugal)

"During the Second World War, following the armistice of 22 June 1940, continental Normandy was part of the German occupied zone of France. The Channel Islands were occupied by German forces between 30 June 1940 and 9 May 1945. The town of Dieppe was the site of the unsuccessful Dieppe Raid by Canadian and British armed forces.

The Allies, led by the United States coordinated a massive build-up of troops and supplies to support a large-scale invasion of Normandy in the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944 under the code name Operation Overlord. The Germans were dug in to fortified emplacements above the beaches. Caen, Cherbourg, Carentan, Falaise and other Norman towns endured many casualties in the Battle of Normandy, which continued until the closing of the so-called Falaise gap between Chambois and Montormel. The liberation of Le Havre followed.

This was a significant turning point in the war and led to the restoration of the French Republic. The remainder of Normandy was liberated only on 9 May 1945 at the end of the war, when the Occupation of the Channel Islands effectively ended." In: Wikipedia

2012-11-11

Babies with AIDS - Portugal

Offered by Sapic12

Information on the card:

"Children are the missing face of AIDS. Every day, almost 1800 children under 15 become HIV-positive and 1400 died of AIDS-related illness. Do not forget them. Keep the promise. Behave responsibly and help stop AIDS." Source: UNICEF AIDS Report 2005

This motive realised by the french agency GRRREY! (Grey Globe Group) is the winner of a creative competition powered by the International Freecard Alliance. Publicards is the Portugal partner of IFA.

1.5 million copies of this freecard have been printed and distributed in 19 countries around the globe"

2012-11-10

Historic center of Siena - Italy (UNESCO)

Sent by "chihuahua"

"Siena is the embodiment of a medieval city. Its inhabitants pursued their rivalry with Florence right into the area of urban planning. Throughout the centuries, they preserved their city's Gothic appearance, acquired between the 12th and 15th centuries. During this period the work of Duccio, the Lorenzetti brothers and Simone Martini was to influence the course of Italian and, more broadly, European art. The whole city of Siena, built around the Piazza del Campo, was devised as a work of art that blends into the surrounding landscape." In: UNESCO

2012-11-09

Doñana National Park - Spain

unused, offered by "joaninha"

"Doñana National Park in Andalusia occupies the right bank of the Guadalquivir river at its estuary on the Atlantic Ocean. It is notable for the great diversity of its biotopes, especially lagoons, marshlands, fixed and mobile dunes, scrub woodland and maquis. It is home to five threatened bird species. It is one of the largest heronries in the Mediterranean region and is the wintering site for more than 500,000 water fowl each year." In: UNESCO

2012-11-08

"Been there, done that!" - United Kingdom

Sent by Mónica Castro

A checklist with the places to see and the think to do in England! Send a postcard is included for sure!

2012-11-07

Great Smoky Mountains National Park - USA (UNESCO)

unused, offered by "geminiscp"

"Stretching over more than 200,000 ha, this exceptionally beautiful park is home to more than 3,500 plant species, including almost as many trees (130 natural species) as in all of Europe. Many endangered animal species are also found there, including what is probably the greatest variety of salamanders in the world. Since the park is relatively untouched, it gives an idea of temperate flora before the influence of humankind." In: UNESCO

2012-11-06

Map card with traditional costumes - Portugal

Edig

unused,

This card is one of my favorites map cards of Portugal. Around the landscape are some of the traditional costumes.

2012-11-05

Old town of Prague - Czech Republic

Sent by "Kilona"

This lovely winter view of Prague shows the Old Town, the Castle, St. Giles' Church and the Petrín lookout tower.

2012-11-04

Paris - France

Some multiview cards showing some popular places in Paris:

unused

used, sent from Paris to Paris with postmark of the "Salon International du Jouet" 10/02/1967

used, sent from Paris to Paris with postmark of "Salon International du Jouet" 07/02/1967

2012-11-03

NL-1049389 - Penguins

NL-1049389 sent by "laurajoh"

A work by Gerhard Glück.

2012-11-02

Tequilla - Mexico (UNESCO)

unused

Information on the card: " The famous "Tequilla" liquor, done with the juice of the Blue Agave, takes its name from the town of Tequilla, located about 25 miles from Guadalajara. An agave field and a traditional factory compose this image."

"The 34,658 ha site, between the foothills of the Tequila Volcano and the deep valley of the Rio Grande River, is part of an expansive landscape of blue agave, shaped by the culture of the plant used since the 16th century to produce tequila spirit and for at least 2,000 years to make fermented drinks and cloth. Within the landscape are working distilleries reflecting the growth in the international consumption of tequila in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, the agave culture is seen as part of national identity. The area encloses a living, working landscape of blue agave fields and the urban settlements of Tequila, Arenal, and Amatitan with large distilleries where the agave ‘pineapple' is fermented and distilled. The property is also a testimony to the Teuchitlan cultures which shaped the Tequila area from AD 200-900, notably through the creation of terraces for agriculture, housing, temples, ceremonial mounds and ball courts." In: UNESCO

2012-11-01

Ancient Olympia - Greece (UNESCO)

unused, offered by "joaninha"

"The site of Olympia, in a valley in the Peloponnesus, has been inhabited since prehistoric times. In the 10th century B.C., Olympia became a centre for the worship of Zeus. The Altis – the sanctuary to the gods – has one of the highest concentrations of masterpieces from the ancient Greek world. In addition to temples, there are the remains of all the sports structures erected for the Olympic Games, which were held in Olympia every four years beginning in 776 B.C." In: UNESCO