SPAIN ~ Vitoria Gasteiz - Basque Country ~

...Pretty views of Vitoria-Gasteiz... the capital city and cultural heart of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country and of Alava territory.... home of the Basque parliament... a vibrant and charming city with the best preserved medieval center of all the Basque Cities... there are an incredible assortment of Renaissance and Romanesque mansions dating back to the 1500’s... the Cathedral of Santa Maria is one of the most impressive and captivating in the whole of Spain... the old town is home to several palaces as well... known for pintxos or tapas bars... Vitoria-Gasteiz is also one of the greenest cities, rich in natural areas... Thanks a lot Josep & Assumpta ! \_(♥‿♥)_/

Vitoria-Gasteiz is located in Northern Spain (in the south of the Basque Country) and was founded in 1180 by the Navarrese King Sancho VI, who conquered the small hill village of Gasteiz and decided to call it New Victoria. The municipality of Vitoria-Gasteiz is made up of a small city and 64 small rural population centres. It is the provincial capital of Alava.

The official name of Vitoria-Gasteiz is a compound name of its traditional names in Spanish and Basque, respectively. By inhabitants, it is still generally referred to as either Vitoria or Gasteiz, depending on the language spoken.

Stamps:

King Felipe VI
(Issued 19-01-2015)

The 1st Anniversary of the Death of Montserrat Caballé
(Issued 31-05-2019)

National Stamp Design Competition
(Issued 05-02-2019)

SPAIN ~ Cadaques - Costa Brava - Catalonia ~

... Wonderful sunset view of a picturesque small fishing town.... situated above the cobalt-blue waters of a rocky bay on Catalonia’s most easterly outcrop... its rocky coast, fringed by beautiful beaches, pretty harbour and quiet coves, forms one of its main attractions... together with the incredible landscape offered by the Cap de Creus Natural Park... the Old Town is a labyrinth of cobbled streets, bright white buildings and blue details, full of shops, restaurants and art galleries... the natural quality of its sea offer the best conditions for all kinds of sports and aquatic activities, like diving, sailing or windsurfing.... a seaside town that inspired Salvador Dalí’s surreal world... Cadaques is home to the famous Casa-Museo de Salvador Dali (House-Museum)... Thanks a lot Josep&Assumpta! (✿ ♥‿♥)

The Costa Brava forms the most northerly stretch of the coast of Catalonia.

 Cadaqués is a town of the county of Alt Empordà, in the province of Girona, Catalonia. It is on a bay in the middle of the Cap de Creus peninsula,where the Pyrenees mountains meet the sea, just south of the French border.

Many notable artists, including Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Marcel Duchamp, Richard Hamilton, Albert Ràfols-Casamada, Antoni Pitxot, Henri-François Rey, Melina Mercouri and Maurice Boitel spent time here.

Cadaqués is mentioned in the story "Tramontana" by Gabriel García Márquez.


Ⓒ Photo: E. Gomà

Stamp:

Design Competition DISELLO
(Issued 05-02-2018)

Pope John Poul II, 1920-2005
(Issued 25-09-2014)

SPAIN ~ Burg - Catalonia ~

... Beautiful winter scenery of a small village clinging to the hillside in the Pyrenees Mountains...  on the southern slope of a sierra (El Ferri), ... one of many picturesque villages and small towns in this beautiful region of Spain... Burg is more a collection of houses rather than an actual village... it has an important cultural and gastronomical side with a restaurant that promotes local products and a theatre that hosts show and dance events... Thanks a lot Josep & Assumpta!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

The village of Burg is located in the valley of Rio Noguera Pallaresa in Upper Catalonia.

It is located to the north of the head of the municipality of Farrera, to the right of the Barranco or Torrent de Burg at the foot of the Solà de Burg, on the southwestern slope of the Sierra de Manga and to the southeast foot of the Farro.

Stamps:

King Felipe VI
(Issued 02-01-2016)

Archivo General de Indias - Seville
(Issued 31-10-2018)

National Stamp Design Competition
(Issued 05-02-2019)

SPAIN ~ Ell Call (The Jewish Quarter) - Girona ~

... Back to Europe🙂 with a beautiful and atmospheric view of the former Jewish Quarter of the Old Town... one of the best well-preserved in the world... an ancient beauty and must see... a maze of winding narrow cobbled streets, stairs and courtyards that remained nowadays very much the same way as they were in medieval times 500 years ago.... lined with lovely boutiques and restaurants... if you want to learn more about the history of the Jewish communities in Catalonia visit the Jewish Museum in town... with great matching Jewish Cultural Heritage stamp... Thanks a lot Josep & Assumpta !! ♥(ˆ⌣ˆԅ)

The Jewish quarter is located in the heart of Girona, Northern Catalonia’s largest city. They lived there from 982 till 1492. It’s also known as “El Call”, which comes from the Latin “Callis” or “streets”.

In the call there was the synagogue, the ritual baths and the butchers, as well as other community services.

The streets of Carrer de Sant Llorenç and Carreró, Travessia del Dr Luis Batlle and Carrer del Dr Miquel Oliva make up the main part of the Jewish quarter here. Torre Gironella is the famous refuge of the Jews during troubled times.





Photo: © Joan M. Linares



Stamps:

 Jewish Cultural Heritage
(Issued 28-11-1997)


America UPAEP Issue - Tourist Destinations
(Issued 13-10-2017)

SPAIN ~ Girona - Catalonia ~

 ... Wonderful view of one of Catalonia's most charming cities... set in the valley of the Ter, at the confluence of four rivers close to the Pyrenees... the so-called “City of the Four Rivers” is a sublime medieval city partly surrounded by an impressive city wall, pleasant squares, cobbled streets, and a wealth of historical monuments and buildings... the amazing Girona Cathedral dominates the skyline... famous for it's 19th-century painted houses line at the river Onyar... the Jewish quarter or El Call is one of the best preserved in Europe and a major tourist attraction...Thanks a lot Josep & Assumpta!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Girona  is a city in Catalonia, at the confluence of the rivers Ter, Onyar, Galligants, and Güell.  It is the capital of the province of the same name and of the comarca of the Gironès.
The cities origins dates back more than 2,000 years.

Stamps: 

King Felipe VI
(Issued 02-01-2016)

The 1000th Anniversary of the Death of Almanzor
(Issued 25-10-2002)

Rocío Jurado, 1946-2006
(Issued 12-02-2016)

SPAIN ~ The Casa Milà - Barcelona - UNESCO ~

... Amazing view of one of Gaudí’s Art Nouveau masterpieces... a gorgeous apartment building... La Pedrera is today one of the most visited monuments in Barcelona... an icon of Catalan modernism... the building does not have a single straight line... the façade is designed in such a way that it is impossible to draw a vertical line from the roof to the ground... each window and balcony are different... nature is the origin and inspiration of the building... the attic is now home to the "Espai Gaudi", a museum dedicated to the great architect.... here you’ll find plastic models of his other famous works, art work, videos, and a great explanation/display of how Gaudi let nature influence his work.... Thanks a lot Belén!!【ツ】

Casa Mila (1906-1912) is a building designed by the architect Antoni Gaudi and commissioned by Pere Milà and Roser Segimon. The name, ‘Casa Milà’ comes from the fact that it was the new home of the Milà family. The couple occupied the main floor and rented out the other apartments.

It was due to its quarry-like features that it earnt the historic building the nickname of La Pedrera, which means quarry. It was Gaudi’s last work of civic architecture and represented a break with the conventions of his day.

The Roof Terrace is one of the most spectacular parts of Casa Milá for it’s imposing chimneys which are reminiscent of twisted, standing soldiers (and those of Casa Batlló), along with six stepping skylights. Decorated in a mosaic of marble and broken Valencian tiles, as well as broken glass from champagne bottles!

Casa Milà was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984 as "Works of Antoni Gaudí" in conjunction with Park Güell, Güell Palace, Casa Vicens, the Nativity Facade and the Sagrada Família Crypt,

Stamp:

EUROPA Stamps - Palaces and Castles
(Issued 21-04-2017)

SPAIN ~ Besalú - Catalonia ~

... Stunning view of a Medieval Gem in the Heart of Catalonia... and one of the best preserved Medieval towns in Spain... the picturesque town centre is a compact huddle of restored historic stone houses, small squares with narrow cobbled and flagstone streets... a step back in time... surrounded by lush green... the most famous landmark is its impressive 12thC multi-arched Romanesque bridge over the river Fluviá... Thanks a lot dear Joseph & Assumpta!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Besalú is located in Girona, Catalonia and was an important town in Roman times; when the Moors were expelled from this corner of Spain in the 9thC it was one of the first independent counties that arose. The town prospered, as it had done in Romans times and remained a place of importance well into the 14thC.

Important monuments include the Mikva, a twelfth-century Jewish bathhouse, the Romanesque church of Santa Vicenç (1018) and the ruins of Romanesque Santa María.The 11thC Hospital, the late 12thC monastery of San Pedro and the church and monsatery of Sant Pere.

The name Besalú is derived from the Latin Bisuldunum, meaning a fort on a mountain between two rivers.

Stamp:

The 250th Anniversary of the Circus
(Issued 09-02-2018)

SPAIN ~ Cordoba - UNESCO ~

... Beautiful views of picturesque Cordoba situated at the heart of Spain's Andalucia region... the city offers a taste of Moorish culture, the Roman empire, Spanish culture and even has a Jewish Quarter....one of Spain's must-see towns... the center of the city is the mosque/cathedral...  it is unique in the world as it is both a former mosque and the current cathedral for Cordoba...  after the Reconquista, the Catholic Church took over the central mosque and built a Christian church right in the middle of the building...  Cordoba has also the highest summer temperatures in Spain and Europe... Big Thanks once more David!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Photo: José Barea "The Christ of the Lanterns - Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos - typical streeet view with the mosque in the background - Patio Cordobes"
Córdoba is,the largest city and the capital of the Province of Cordoba in the center of the autonomous community of Andalusia in southern Spain. It lies at the southern foot of the Morena Mountains and on the bank of the Guadalquivir River.

The city was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984 and extended in 1994 to add the Historic Centre to Mezquita.

Stamp:

King Felipe VI
(Issued 02-01-2016)

SPAIN ~ Church of the Sacred Heart - Melilla ~

... It wouldn't be a postcard by David if it wasn't sent from a *special* placeツ... a little piece of Spain in Africa... the only EU territory on the African Continent... together with Ceuta they form the European Union's only land borders with Africa....most of us know the city from the news... Melilla and Ceuta are often seen as a gateway to Europe by refugees... heavily fortified borders have come under pressure from African migrants seeking a better life in Europe... but the city is also the most important center for Modern Architecture in Africa... and known as the “City of Four Cultures” with its mix of Christians, Muslims, Jews and the modern Hindu population living together... Thanks a lot David!! ❀◕ ‿ ◕❀

This autonomous city is a Spanish exclave, located on the North African coast, the Mediterranean sea on one side and Morocco surrounding the rest with an area of 12.3 km2.

Melilla is one of two permanently inhabited Spanish cities in mainland Africa, the other being Ceuta. It was part of the Province of Málaga until 14 March 1995, when the city's Statute of Autonomy was passed. This territory is also claimed by Morocco.

The Sacred Heart Church is located downtown beside the Plaza Menendez Pelayo and was designed by the Malaga architect Fernando Guerrero Strachan in 1918. It has a modern Neo-Romanesque design and the facade has an impressive bell tower.



Stamp:

King Felipe VI
(Issued 02-01-2016)

SPAIN ~ Calella de Palafrugell - Costa Brava ~

... Lovely view of one of the prettiest coastal villages in Spain.... well known for its various rocky coves, sandy beaches and excellent fish restaurants... it was traditionally a fishing village, and these days it hasn’t lost that feel... near the beach, there are traditional fishermen’s houses, which are well preserved.... other local activities include tennis...walking and cycling routes... scuba diving and water sports... Thanks a lot Joseph & Assumpta!! (✿ ♥‿♥) → http://cartesipostalsdarreu.blogspot.com/

Photo:© Jaume Serrat
Calella de Palafrugell is one of three coastal towns belonging to the municipality of Palafrugell in the  province of Girona.  It is part of the Costa Brava, the coastal region of northeastern Catalonia, in the comarca of Baix Empordà. It is near Palafrugell and a short distance along the coast from Llafranc.

Stamps:

King Felipe VI
(Issued 19-01-2015)

The 700th Anniversary (2015) of the Death of Ramón Llull, 1232-1315
(Issued 12-04-2016)

SPAIN ~ Teide National Park - Tenerife - UNESCO ~

... Great new National Park sent from Tenerife... the largest and oldest out of all the national parks in the Canary Islands... the most visited in Europe with around three million visitors a year... the park covers one of the world's most stunning volcanic landscapes... sharp-edged and pointed stones form a lunar landscape that was the setting for Science-Fiction films such as Star Wars and Planet of the apes... a major must-do on the island is taking the cable car up Mount Teide... it brings you to a viewing area just 163m below the mighty volcano’s peak, which affords incredible views across the island and beyond... Thanks a lot Anna!! ❀◕ ‿ ◕❀

Photo: Ramon Donate
Teide National Park is a national park surrounding Mount Teide in the middle of Tenerife covering roughly 19,000 hectares (47,000 acres). This Park was created in 1954 in recognition of its volcanic and biological singularity. It is Spain's highest point and the third tallest volcano in the world.

The fauna and flora includes a significant array of endemic Canarian species and several others that only live in the Park.

Teide National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 under the Natural Asset category.

Stamp:

Tourism
(Issued 09-01-2018)

SPAIN ~ Santa Maria del Mar Basilica - Barcelona ~

... Beautiful view of the icon of Catalan Gothic... the finest Gothic church in the heart of Barcelona.... important for its architectural harmony and simplicity... the façade and interior having undergone only minor alterations since the original design... a "must see" for anyone interested in history or architecture... it has lovely detailed stain glass, magical interiors and alcoves with beautiful statues... many people look for the church based on the bestselling novel “la catedral del mar” (Cathedral of the Sea) by Ildefonso Falcones... set in 14thC Barcelona at the height of the Inquisition, with the construction of Santa Maria del Mar serving as background to the story...  with lovely matching stamp👍!! Thanks a lot Josep & Assumpta !! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Santa Maria del Mar meaning Saint Mary of the Sea is a Gothic church which is is located in the neighbourhood known as El Born not far from the Gothic Quarter and the seafront. This Basilica was built during the 14thC on a site which was once occupied by a Roman Amphitheatre.

This Basilica took 54 years to build and is a rare example of pure Catalan Gothic architecture (most churches and cathedrals are a combination of styles).

The basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, which was designed by Berenguer de Montagut, was the place of worship for the shipwrights and merchants of Gothic Barcelona.


©Photo: Pere Vivas

Stamps:

EUROPA Stamps - Palaces and Castles
(Issued 21-04-2017)

Sightseeings
(Issued 09-11-1983)

SPAIN ~ Bernat de So tower - Llivia - Catalonia ~

... Lovely view of one of the most beautiful towns in the Pyrenees...  full of picturesque charm... it is a special village located in Catalan area called La Cerdanya, but surrounded by French territory... separated from the rest of Catalonia by a corridor about 1.6km wide... la Cerdanya is known for being one of the valleys with the highest number of sunlight hours of all of Europe... with great matching Tower stamp... Thanks a lot dear Josep and Assumpta !!

Llivia is a Catalan enclave surrounded by the French department of Pyrénées-Orientales.  In 1659 the Treaty of the Pyrenees ceded various parts of Spain near the French border to France. However the treaty stated that only villages were to be transferred to France. Spain argued that, because Llivia was the ancient capital of Cerdanya, it was a city not a village. And so it was that the 12.84km² Catalan territory of Llivia, part of Cerdanya and the province of Girona, remained part of Spain.

The Bernat de So tower was built between 1584 and 1585, together with the church, which was no longer used by 1617, and it became the new town defences. Today it is used for temporary exhibitions.

Stamps:

Traditional Trades - Pottery
(Issued 1509-2017)

Sightseeing
(Issued 09-11-1983)

SPAIN ~ Urbasa-Andía natural park ~

... A magical view... the perfect postcard for this time of the year... the beech trees in these beautiful forests turn orange, red and gold in autumn... as Spain is the second most mountainous country in western Europe, it is surprisingly rich in beech forests... an ideal place for many outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, climbing, caving and paragliding... Thanks a lot Joseph&Assumpta!!  ヽ(ヅ)ノ I so hope for a peaceful solution for all Catalan people!! 웃❤유

ⒸPhoto: Antionio Arenal The Urbasa Range is a mountain range of western Navarre, part of the Basque Mountains.
Its highest point is the 1.183m  high Baiza. Urbasa is a karstic range where numerous nummulites fossils have been found.Together with the neighboring Andia range, Urbasa is part of the Urbasa-Andia Natural Park.

The Natural Park of Urbasa and Andía form a large area of ​​27,858 ha. whose surface is occupied mainly by beech and mountain pastures. This Natural Park is located on the north-western part of Navarre and it was declared a Natural Park in 1997.

Stamp:

EUROPA Stamps - Palaces and Castles
(Issued 21-04-2017)

SPAIN ~ Purullena - Granada ~

... Great postcard showing unusual and famous cave houses... an amazing town, which seems to hang off the clay cliffs... also known as "Troglodityc" town... you can visit inside a unique three-storey cave house, which is both local museum and family home... famous for its locally produced ceramics decorated with a cobalt blue pattern that dates back to the 16thC... Thanks a lot Andrene!! (✿ ♥‿♥) Hope you had a wonderful stay in Spain.☼ ☼ ☼

Purullena is located in the Andalusian region in Granada province.

The town has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Archaeological remains dating back to 3000 BC have been discovered here.

It was also an ancient Roman town  "Purullius", which was later transformed into a farmstead by the Muslims.  In 1489 it was finally conquered by the Catholic Monarchs.

Stamp:

The Road to Santiago
(Issued 25-04-2016)

SPAIN ~ Estella-Lizarra - Navarra ~

... A lovely surprise showing "Estella la Bella" ... a romanitic city full of history, with impressive facades and gorgeous Romanesque and Gothic buildings... a lot of pilgrims take Estella-Lizarra as one of the most important stops of the Saint James Way (Route of Santiago de Compostela), especially, as a cultural one....the region of Navarra often gets overlooked as a tourist destination... Big Thanks once more Josep and Assumpta!!(✿ ♥‿♥)

Estella (Spanish) or Lizarra (Basque) is a town located in the autonomous community of Navarre, in northern Spain.

The town of Estella is founded by Sancho I Ramirez in the year 1090.

Estella- Lizarra became a landmark in the Way of St. James pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, thriving on the privileged location and the melting pot of Francos called in by Navarrese kings, Jews and the original Navarrese inhabitants.






Photo: Daniel Acevedo

Stamps:

The 30th Anniversary of Spain as Member State of the European Union
(07-07-2016)

Lighthouses
(Issued 11-04-2011)

SPAIN ~ Bridge of Triana - Seville ~

... Beautiful nightview of the bridge with Sevilla’s skyline with it’s cathedral and the giraldillo... it was the first engineering work in iron carried out in Seville and one of the first in Spain. ...the unique design of the bridge makes it a must-see attraction... Thanks a lot Johan!! \_(♥‿♥)_/ (WooW +40℃...voor mij ook véééél te heet ☼☼☼ )

Photo:Xavier Durán
The bridge connects Seville and the neighborhood district, Triana which is situated in the west bank of the Guadalquivir River. The original name of the bridge is Isabel II Bridge which was built in 1847 – 1852 and inaugurated on 23rd February 1852 with military ceremonial parade.

The bridge was built by the French engineers Bernadet and Steinacher, they were inspired by the Parisian Carousel bridge.

This bridge, declared national historic heritage, also has the honor to be the first steady bridge to cross the Guadalquivir, replacing a wooden one known as "Puente de Barcas" (the Rowboats Bridge).

Stamp:

King Felipe VI
(Issued 01-02-2017)

SPAIN ~ Novo Sancti Petri - Andalusia ~

... Beautiful aerial coastal view... a beach that stretches over 5 miles with golden sand and turquoise water... Sancti Petri is also known for its sunsets over the Atlantic... it has over 20 luxury hotels and great golf courses... sounds as a wonderful place for a holiday ☼☼☼... hope you enjoyed it Johan!! Thanks a lot for thinking of me during your holiday!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Photo: Miguel A. Gomez
Novo Sancti Petri is a resort town in the municipality of Chiclana de la Frontera in the province of Cádiz, Andalusia, southwestern Spain. It lies along the Playa de la Barrosa to the south of the main town of Chiclana.

Stamp:

International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development
(17-01-2017)

SPAIN ~ Menorca - Map - UNESCO ~

... Great map card coming from the easternmost and least known Balearic island... a picturesque island with idyllic beaches and turquoise seas... hidden sandy coves... scenic hiking trails... and ancient monuments... a holiday paradise... Thanks a lot Elena!! ❁◕ ‿ ◕❁

The Balearic Islands are an archipelago of Spain in the Mediterranean Sea. The four largest islands are Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza, and Formentera. Menorca is the second largest Balearic island after Mallorca and is less than 50km long and 22km wide.

The archipelago forms an autonomous community and a province of Spain, of which the capital city is Palma.

Minorca was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1993 because of the need to preserve the great diversity of habitats that coexist on this small island - the richness of flora and fauna, the quality of the rural landscape and archaeological heritage.

Stamp:

King Felipe VI
(Issued 02-01-2016)

Spain ~ Portal of the Santa Maria monastery - Ripoll - UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List ~

... Beautiful view of the main gate from the monastery...  wonderful piece of history... because of its originality, quality and size, the portal is recognized as one of the most important pieces of European Romanesque sculpture... also known as "the Bible of stone"... because it depicts passages of the Bible's Old Testament... with great matching stampッ...Thanks a lot Joseph and Assumpta!! (✿ ♥‿♥)➜Letters and postcards from around

Ripoll  is the capital of the comarca of Ripollès, in the province of Girona, Catalonia. It is located on confluence of the Ter River and its tributary Freser, next to the Pyrenees near the French border.

The Benedictine monastery Santa Maria de Ripoll, the Cradle of Catalonia was built in the Romanesque style and founded by the Count Wilfred “The Hairy” in the 9th century.

The  triumphal-arch-shaped Romanesque portal dating from the 12th C is divided into seven horizontal strips, in which Biblical, historical and allegoric scenes are depicted.

Each one of the scenes in the portal of Ripoll is full of symbolism and meaning.

Stamps:
The 800th Anniversary of the University of Salamanca
(Issued 26-10-2016)

Castles and Abbeys - Monastery de Ripoll
(Issued 12-11-1970)