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)

SPAIN ~ Tarragona - UNESCO ~

... View of the wonderful Roman Amphitheatre...the most impressive of Tarragona's ancient remains... built on a hillside overlooking the Mediterranean Sea...the venue would have once held 15.000 people and played host to gladiatorial battles and other pastimes of the ancient Romans... with as etra bonus a matching stamp... Thanks a lot Joseph and Assumpta (✿◠‿◠)➞ Cartes i postals d'arreu !!

Photo: Raymond, s.a.
Tarragona is port located on the Mediterranean coast,  southwest of Barcelona, in the region of Catalonia. The city is the smallest of the four province capitals of the region, yet it has the historical and cultural appeal of a larger city.

Built in the 2nd century AD, this excellent example of Roman architecture once held gladiator combats (munera) and wild animal hunts (venationes)  during the reign of Emperor Augustus.The oval shaped amphitheatre was carved out of underlying bedrock in the area.

In Roman times, the city of Tarragona was named Tarraco. The Roman ruins of Tarraco have been designated a WHS by UNESCO in 2000.

Stamps:
Rural Architecture
(Issued 10-10-2016

UNESCO World Heritage
(Issued 30-11-2001)

SPAIN ~The Hospital de Sant Pau - UNESCO ~

... More beauty from postcard friends ♥... the world's largest Art Nouveau Site... an architectural masterpiece... a must-see group of hospital buildings... with great matching UNESCO stamp... Thanks a lot Josep and Assumpta!! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The Hospital de Sant Pau was built to replace the old and too small Hospital de la Santa Creu at the end of 19th century. (1905-1930)

The famous Catalan architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner designed this new hospital for the city  and he thought about creating a sort of garden city that would also cheer up patients. The innovative hospital was inaugurated in 1930 and the result was a magnificent complex of whimsical pavilions adorned with colorful turrets and covered with beautiful mosaics, stained glass and marble sculptures.

The hospital was closed in 2009 and after refurbishment opened to the public in 2014.Today it hosts headquarters of international organizations such as Casa Àsia and the United Nations University Institute on Globalization, Culture and Mobility.

It was awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO in 1997.

Photo: © Pere Vivas

Stamps:
Rural Architecture
(Issued 29-10-2015)

UNESCO World Heritage
(Issued 30-11-2001)

King Juan Carlos I
(Issued 02-01-2002)

SPAIN ~ Poblet Monastery - Catalonia - UNESCO ~

....Wonderful aerial view of an impressive architectural complex... this abbey is among the most important monastic ensembles in Europe.. surrounded by stunning forests and vineyards... still a working monastery to this day and you'll see monks walking around the premises... it consists of a guesthouse, sadly for male guests only... with great matching stampツ...Thanks a lot Josep and Assumpta for this lovely surprise!! \_(♥‿♥)_/

Photo: Tavisa
The Royal Abbey of Santa Maria de Poblet is a Cistercian monastery whose monks, since its foundation in 1150, have followed the Rule of Saint Benedict. Closed down due to the Spanish State's laws in 1835, the monastery was refounded in 1940 by Italian monks of the same Order.

This Cistercian abbey is one of the best examples of religious architecture in Catalonia and in Europe and one of the most complete Cistercian abbeys in the world. It houses also the tombs of a long line of kings and queens of Catalonia and Aragon  (the medieval Catalan Kings) in a great pantheon.

To date, there are 32 so-called ‘white monks’ residing in the abbey who live in meditation, seclusion, manual labor and self-reliance.

It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991.

Stamps:
UNESCO - Santa Maria de Poblet Monastery
(Issued 03-12-1993)

King Felipe VI
(Issued 02-01-2016)

SPAIN ~ Algar Waterfalls - Costa Blanca ~

...Beautiful view of the impressive Algar waterfalls... a must see when in Benidorm...a natural aquatic attraction...they show a different, very quiet and even cool Spain...Thanks Dorien and Ben! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The Fonts del Algar is a series of naturally occurring waterfalls and natural pools which are only 15km from Benidorm.

The Valencian government has declared the waterfalls and surrounding area a Protected Wetland. The Algar Falls and the hills and valleys around it offer a great combination of exercise and sightseeing,

Stamp:

Tourism
(Issued 02-01-2016)

SPAIN ~ Benidorm - Costa Blanca ~

...Received 4 great holiday postcards sent by family from a true Spanish beauty on the Costa Blanca...and a favorite vacation destination for Belgian people...Thanks a lot Ben and Dorien! ♥

Benidorm is a city in the province of Alicante in eastern Spain, on the Mediterranean coast.

Until the 1960s, Benidorm was a small fishing village; today it is known for its hotel industry, beaches and skyscrapers.

The city has an impressive nightlife thanks to its selection of more than two hundred clubs and one thousand bars,

Stamp:

 Tourism
 (Issued 02-01-2016)

SPAIN ~ Salamanca - UNESCO ~

...Beautiful view of the Roman bridge leading to the Cathedral in the background... a town full of history but also lively and vibrant thanks to its university...Thank you very much Josep and Assumpta for this great new UNESCO site. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Photo: Klaus Dillenberger
Salamanca is an ancient university town situated in the west of Spain in the Autonomous Community of Castilla and León. It is known as "La Dorada", or "Golden City", because of the golden glow of its sandstone buildings.

It is one of the most important university cities in Spain. Salamanca University was founded in the XII century and the first in Europe to receive the designation "university".

The New Cathedral was constructed between the 16th and 18th centuries in two styles: late Gothic and Baroque. Building began in 1513 and the cathedral was consecrated in 1733. It was commissioned by Ferdinand V of Castile of Spain.

The Roman Bridge used to be the main entrance into Salamanca. The bridge crosses the Tormes River at one of its widest points and lies on a rocky subsoil. It is 176 m long and 3.70 m wide, with 26 round arches and robust pillars. It forms part of the roman Silver Road that linked Merida and Astorga.

Its Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.

Stamp:

The 61st International Habaneras and Poliphony Choral Contest
(Issued 19-07-2015)

SPAIN ~ Benalmádena Costa ~

...Great holiday postcard...with ± 320 days of sunshine per year...white-sand beaches overlooking the Mediterranean...this must be an ideal place for a relaxing holiday...I hope you and your family enjoyed it there【ツ】Thanks a lot Johan!→ http://johanpostcards.blogspot.be/

Photo: Salvador Aznar
Benalmádena is a town in Andalusia in southern Spain on the Costa del Sol.

The area of Benalmádena has nice beaches and interesting places like the Colomares Castle, the 33 meter tall Buddhist Benalmádena Stupa, the biggest buddhist stupa in Europe, and the Benalmádena Marina.

Stamp:

Tourism
(Issued 02-01-2016)

SPAIN ~ Aigüestortes Sant Maurici National Park ~

...Gorgeous nature view showing the only National Park in Catalonia and one of the fourteen Spanish National Parks...must say, I could get used to these wonderful daily surprises in my mailbox ʘ͜͡ʘ...Thanks so much Josep and Assumpta!!(✿ ♥‿♥) →(http://cartesipostalsdarreu.blogspot.be/)

Sant Maurici National Park is located in the central part of the Pyrenees, in the province of Lleida and established in 1955.

Espot is a town at the gates of the National Park at the heart of the Escrita river valley. The high-mountain landscape has an impressive relief and a wealth of flora and fauna. The main feature of the area is water, with close to 200 "estanys" or lakes and countless streams. The Encantats peak (2,982 m), is the ideal setting for outdoor sports such as hiking and mountaineering.

This is the habitat of the wild goat, the capercaillie, the marmot and the legendary bearded vulture (also known as the lammergeyer).

Stamps:
King Juan Carlos
(Issued 02-01-2002)

King Felipe VI
(Issued 19-01-2015)

Princess of Asturias Awards
(Issued 02-10-2015)

SPAIN ~ Palace of Catalan Music - UNESCO ~

...Wonderful nightview of an impressive monument dedicated to music...one of the most beautiful buildings situated on a corner of downtown Barcelona...Thanks so much Dustin ♥ for this nice surprise and thinking of me during your holiday!! ㋡

"Palau de la Música Catalana" (Music Palace), is a concert hall designed by the architec Lluís Domènech i Montaner and opened in 1908.

 It is built in the Catalan Modernisme style for the Orfeó Català, a choral society founded in 1891 that was a leading force in the Catalan cultural and political independence movement.

Outside, the building is decorated with a massive sculptural group symbolizing Catalan music by artist Miguel Blay.


The Palau de la Música Catalana was declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 1997.



Photo:© Pere Vivas

Stamps:

Tourism
(Issued 02-01-2016)

The World of Cervantes (2-3)
(Issued 29-01-2016)

SPAIN ~Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí - UNESCO ~

...Many beautiful churches...all located  in a rural setting and  picturesque mountain scenery...with matching UNESCO stamp...Thanks a lot Josep & Assumpta for this nice unexpected surprise in my mailbox! ♥ (http://cartesipostalsdarreu.blogspot.be/)

The narrow Vall de Boí is situated in the high Pyrénées, in the Alta Ribagorça region and is surrounded by steep mountains. Each village in the valley contains a Romanesque church, and is surrounded by a pattern of enclosed fields. There are extensive seasonally-used grazing lands on the higher slopes.

The Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí are  dating back to the 11th an 12thC and are considered to be the purest examples of Catalan Lombard Romanesque art. Characteristic features of the churches are their finely worked stone and beautiful bell towers.  There are nine Early Romanesque churches, making it the site of the densest concentration of Romanesque architecture in Europe.

Stamps:

The 500th Anniversary of Juan Ponce de León's Arrival at the Florida Coast.
(Issued 03-01-2014)

UNESCO World Heritage
(Issued 30-11-2001)

SPAIN ~Aguadulce - Costa de Almeria ~

...Great beach and harbour view......Thanks a lot Kathleen and Francis for this lovely surprise holiday postcard!!♥【ツ】

Situated 7 miles to the west of Almeria and 4 miles to the east of Roquetas de Mar on the Andalusian coast, Aguadulce is a traditional Spanish holiday resort with sandy beaches, great facilities  and sunniest temperatures in Spain.


The beach is two and a half kilometres long and has loads of facilities.

The harbour is the centre for the busy nightlife.

Stamp:

 Tourism
(Issued 02-01-2015)

SPAIN ~ Barcelona- Sagrada Familia - UNESCO ~

Fantastic and impressive night view...Barcelona's top tourist destination... Thanks a lot  Johan for this great holiday postcard!! ♥

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain.It is also Europe's largest metropolis on the Mediterranean Sea. Barcelona is the 16th-most-visited city in the world and the fifth most visited in Europe after Paris, London, Berlin and Rome, with several million tourists every year.

The Sagrada Família, is a massive, privately-funded Roman Catholic church that has been under construction in Barcelona, Catalonia, since 1882 and is not expected to be complete until at least 2026. It is considered as the master-work of renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926).

Although not finished, the church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and in November 2010 was consecrated and made a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XXVI.

Stamps:

The 25th Anniversary of the Spanish Constitution
(Issued 05-12-2003)
The 100th Anniversary of the Spanish Air Force
(Issued 31-05-2011)


 with is cancellation in the bottom left corner...ʘ͜͡ʘ

SPAIN ~Minorca Island - Binibeca ~

View of one of the most beautiful villages on the coast of Minorca...it is s the least crowded of the Balearic Islands...Thanks Vall!!

Photo: Marc Pons Binebeca Vell or Old Town was actually designed and built in the 1970 s by a famous Catalan architect but manages to look like a genuinely old fishing village with its quaint whitewashed houses and narrow alleys.

Minorca  is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. The island  is the second largest of the Balearic Islands, located to the northeast of Mallorca.

October 8, 1993 the island of Minorca was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.

Coming from Spain with "Swiss" stamps...weird^^
It's a private courier service, some souvenir shops offer Swiss Post stamps. There are special boxes in which postcards franked with those stamps have to be posted. Swiss post collect them and sent the postcards.

From a Minorca P.P. Sheet of 10 Post Paid labels Swiss Post International

SPAIN ~Valencia ~

Sent by family... lots of great views of  old and modern architecture harmonious in one city...
Thanks a lot Dorien!


Stamp:
Architecture (Classical) -
Arches and Monumental Gates
(Issued 02-01-2014)

©Editirial fisa escudo de oro,S.A.
Valencia, the third largest city in Spain, was founded by the Roman Empire in 138 B.C. Located on the banks of the Mediterranean Sea.

The old town with Plaza de la Reina and Plaza de la Virgen, between which is located the Cathedral with its famous bell tower, El Miguelete, and the Serranos and Quart Towers, the only two perfectly-conserved city gates. The the Barrio del Carmen and the Lonja de la Seda (UNESCO World Heritage)

All of these contrast with the City of Arts and Sciences, designed by Valencia’s own Santiago Calatrava. The atmosphere inside this spectacular architectural complex, which lies in the former Turia riverbed, makes it one of the most worthwhile visits of all.

SPAIN ~ Saragossa - Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar ~

Card nr 2 from Saragossa, a wonderful nightview dominated by a beautiful cathedral...Thanks Antonio!!


 Definitive series - H.M. King Juan Carlos I
Flora and Fauna - European Bee-eater
 (Issued 01-07-2008)
 Music & Dance (Musical instruments)
(Issued 24-02-2010)

The Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar (better known simply as El Pillar) is a Roman Catholic church and one of two major cathedrals in the heart of the city.It is an immense baroque structure with no fewer than 11 tiled cupolas.
And an important pilgrimage site, thanks to an ancient pillar said to have been given by the Virgin Mary to Saint James on this very spot.

SPAIN ~Saragossa ~

... beautiful city nightview...regularly visitors of my blog will know that I love cities on river banks...
Thanks a lot Antonio!!


With lovely stamps:
Definitive series - H.M. King Juan Carlos I
Flora and Fauna - European Bee-eater (Issued 01-07-2008)
 Jubilee Year of Compostela, Xacobeo 2010 (Issued 13-05-2010)

Saragossa is the capital city of the Zaragoza province and of the autonomous community of Aragon. It is situated on the Ebro river and its tributaries, the Huerva and the Gállego, near the centre of the region, in a valley with a variety of landscapes, ranging from desert (Los Monegros) to thick forest, meadows and mountains.

Puente de Piedra or Stone Bridge across the river Ebro in the Zaragoza. Puente de Piedra is also called the Bridge of Lions because four lions (symbols of the city) are placed on the pillars at both sides of the bridge.

SPAIN ~Ibiza Island~

... blue sea, white sandy beach and sun...the postcard from my nephew Ben's holiday finally arrived...
I think the postcard was wrongly sent to Malta where they put a sticker above the Spanish stamps...and then to Belgium!!! Bedankt Ben (beter laaat dan nooit zullen we maar zeggen ^__^)



I steamed the sticker off and found the Spanish stamps.
(okay a postcard collector does strange things...) :D

Ibiza is an island in the Mediterranean Sea 79 km off the coast of the city of Valencia in Spain. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands after Mallora and Minorca and an autonomous community of Spain.

Beach of Playa d'en Bossaalso is a beautiful and lively holiday resort situated on the south east coast of Ibiza. Famous for its with more than 2 km. of golden sandy beach.

SPAIN ~Las Palmas-Historic City - UNESCO (Tentative List) ~

Wonderful card nr 3...fascinating architecture...historic buildings...colorful painted houses...
...it has a wonderful Mediterranean feel!! Thanks again Fabienne!!

Great stamps:
Traditional Sports and Games - Calva
(Issued 27-10-2008)
 Musical Instruments - Castanets
 (Issued 22-02-2013)

Founded in 1478, Las Palmas is the largest city and the capital of Gran Canaria. The majority of historic and cultural monuments are located in the oldest district of Las Palmas - Vegueta. Among maze of paved streets we find for example: the famous square Plaza de Santa Ana, the huge impressive cathedral Catedral de Santa Ana and a house, in which Christopher Columbus had been staying, and where today is the museum dedicated to him.

SPAIN ~Gran Canaria - Santa Lucia~

...as being a favorite holiday destination for Belgian people the island  is mostly  associated with the stereotype of sun,beach, sea and all-inclusive deals... not this amazing nature and unique landscape...
50% of the territory of the Canary islands are a protected natural area...
Thanks so much for card nr 2 Fabienne!!:)

With a set of great stamps:
-National Heritage 2005
(Issued 9-05-2005)
-Clothing - The Shawl
 (Issued 7-04-2004)
-stamp dedicated to the first  millennium of the kingdom of Grenade (26-02-2013)

Gran Canaria is located southeast of Tenerife and west of Fuerteventura. The island is of volcanic origin, mostly made of fissure vents.

 Santa Lucía de Tirajana is situated in the mountains and the valley area (south-east of the island Gran Canaria) that are mainly covered with greens and forests. This charming town is located on an altitude of 680 metres above sea level, on the area of wide crater of Caldera de Tirajana.