SPAIN ~Sant Miquel Chapel - Lillet - Catalonia ~

... Nice view of a Romanesque chapel... one of the few well preserved buildings of circular layout in Catalonia... linked to the large neighboring monastery... it is tiny and does not have any windows... in the inner part, you can only see an altar and a religious figure... (6.5 m in outer diameter and 4.7 m in interior)... it stands out for its austerity and regularity, only broken by the small apse and the entrance door... Thanks a lot Josep&Assumpta! ♥(ˆ⌣ˆԅ) 

La Pobla de Lillet village is located in the northeastern part of Berguedà at an altitude of 843 m, in a leafy valley at the foot of the Catllaràs mountain range.

Located about 150m from the Monastery of Santa Maria de Lillet, according to an inscription on the altar, the church was consecrated on 9 May 1000. This is also confirmed by a document signed by Antoni Barnola on 22 February 1791.Two restorations have been carried out: the first in 1935 and the second in 1980,  ​​in which the roof tiling was redone.

 Stamp:

Museums

(Issued 27-03-2024)

SPAIN ~ Girona - Catalonia ~

... Great view of a gorgeous small city in the north of Spain also called  the "City of the Four Rivers"... it is a well-preserved medieval city with lots of historical charm, beautiful architecture, and many attractions to see... it has one of the most important mediaeval quarters in Spain and one of the best-preserved old Jewish quarters in Europe... one of the main tourist attraction is the magnificent cathedral of Santa Maria located at the highest point of the old city featuring the widest Gothic nave in the world with a breadth of 22 metres... recognisable for the Game of Thrones fans as the "Great Sept of Baelor"... the historic centre is surrounded by walls from where you have a full panoramic view of the whole medieval part of Girona, you can even see the Pyrenees in the distance... Thanks a lot Josep&Assumpta!ヽ(•‿•)ノ  

© Jordi Puig 

Girona is a city of Catalonia and capital of the province of the same name. It is situated at the confluence of the rivers Ter, Galigants, Honiar, and Guel, near the border with France. The origins of the city of Girona date back to Roman times.                                                                     

 

Stamp:

The 1100 Anniversary of the Kingdom of Nájera 

(Issued 27-08-2023)

SPAIN ~ Aristot - Alt Urgell - Catalonia ~

... Another spectacular view of one of the many wonderful small villages in the Catalonian Pyrenees... this mountain village with only 29 inhabitants is located on the side of a hill... set in a majestic landscape, close to the border with Andorra... you can see the brick houses with their red roof tiles from afar... tourists come to Aristot to visit the castle ruins... but also to walk through the narrow streets and enjoy the breathtaking panoramic views of the surroundings... Thanks a lot Josep&Assumpta! ♥(ˆ⌣ˆԅ) 

Aristot  (1,223 m high) is a town in the municipality of Pont de Bar, in the Alt Urgell region  overlooking the Segre river valley. The houses extend around the Romanesque -style parish church of  St. Andrew, which has undergone several restorations over time. 

Alt Urgell is a comarca (county) in Catalonia, a modern representation of part of the historic County of Urgell (ca 789 - 1413), the seat of the Counts of Urgell and the historic region of Urgellet.

Stamp:

Roman Villa Salar 

(Issued 16-06-2023)

SPAIN ~ La Fresneda Town Hall - Aragon ~

... Lovely view of one of the many historical places in one of the most beautiful villages in Teruel, a province of Aragon...  this medieval Town hall palace dating from the 16thCi s a remarkable Renaissance-style building, with a large wrought-iron balcony... it also retains some elements of late Gothic style... the house has three floors with three different facades... the main façade has a Renaissance style and the side façade has a late Gothic style... it is considered a Cultural Asset of Aragon and its importance is such that it has been replicated in Barcelona... Thanks a lot Josep&Assumpta! ♥(ˆ⌣ˆԅ)

La Fresneda is a place with a very small population (462 inhabitants). Belonging to the so-called Franja d'Aragó , a Catalan-speaking Aragonese territory that for the most part borders on Catalonia, the official name of the region is Matarraña/Matarranya. 

Stamps:

Personalities - Almudena Grandes, 1960-2021

(Issued 27-05-2022)

Christmas 

(Issued 07-11-2022é

SPAIN ~ Roque Nublo - Gran Canaria ~

... Lovely spring view with on the background one of the biggest natural crags in the world... this Monument is one of the most representative symbols of the Canary Islands... its distinct shape is easy to spot from multiple viewpoints and villages across the island... a Monument of special significance to the islanders and an ancient place of worship for the aborigines... the visit to Roque Nublo is one of the best things to do in Gran Canaria... it is possible to take several hikes on foot to the Monument itself... offering a unique and spectacular panoramic view... Thanks a lot Andrene! (♥‿♥) 

                             ~~~~~~🥚🐇🐰🐣 Happy Easter to you too! 🐣🐰🐇🥚~~~~~~ 

                                       ~~~~~~ 🐰And to all my postcard friends!🐰~~~~~~

Roque Nublo, which means “Cloud Rock,” is a 65m tall volcanic rock on Gran Canaria. It was formed by a volcanic eruption around 4.5 million years ago. At 1813m, Roque Nublo is the third highest summit on the island. 

Gran Canaria  is the third-largest and second-most-populous island of the Canary Islands, an archipelago off the Atlantic coast of Northwest Africa which is part of Spain.

Stamp: 

Tourism - Gastronomy

(Issued 14-01-2022)

SPAIN ~ Risco Caido - Gran Canaria - UNESCO ~

... Pretty view of another great new UNESCO site...  a network of 21 hand-carved caves... the Sacred Mountains and the cultural landscape located at the North West side near Artenara, the highest town on the island... an almost inaccessible area that has remained untouched for centuries... and one of the best hidden secrets on the island... this is the area where you can really understand what the traditional lifestyle of the first inhabitants of Gran Canaria has been... the Risco Caído Archaeological Site includes a series of ceremonial, residential, and agricultural-livestock caves... a natural work of art and a unique archaeological monument worldwide discovered in 1996... it’s considered to be one of the most spectacular sites on the island... Thanks Adolfo! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  

Risco Caído is located in the volcanic caldera of Tejeda, a place of 18,000 hectares. This pre-Hispanic, native population had lived on the Canary Islands for about 2000 years. Much of this time they were isolated from the world and even neighbouring islands. They seem to have evolved from North African Berbers until the first Spanish settlers in the 15thC. 

In 2019 Risco Caido and the sacred mountains of Gran Canaria became a UNESCO WHS site. This World Heritage site covers much more than the caves of Risco Caído. It includes the entire landscape of the Caldera de Tejeda, sacred to the Canaries, and other sites such as Mesa de Acusa, Roque Bentayga, Roque Nublo and the Cueva de los Candiles.

Stamp:

EUROPA Stamps - Stories and Myths 

(Issued 09-05-2022)

SPAIN ~ Montserrat - Barcelona - Catalonia ~

... Winter scene of a spectacularly beautiful Benedictine monk mountain retreat.. a sacred site nestled in the heart of Catalonia... it offers you some of the most spectacular mountain views and unusual rock formations... the Montserrat mountain and its monastery have always been an important symbol of Catalonia´s history, spiritual beliefs and culture, and is also the home of the religious figure of the Mare de Dé u de Montserrat, the patron saint of Catalonia... the Benedictine community is still active after many centuries and today the mountain on Montserrat welcomes thousands of Christian pilgrims every year... one of the highlight of your visit to the monastery is to listen to the famous Basilica choir boy performances of Gregorian chants and other genres of religious choral music... one of the oldest in Europe... Thanks a lot Josep&Assumpta!(✿ ♥‿♥)

This incredible mound was formed 45 million years ago. Its name Montserrat means ‘jagged or serrated mountain’ because of the sharp looking peaks of the mountain.

The Benedictine Monastery in Montserrat was founded  in the 11thC by Abbot Oliba, beside the shrine of Santa Maria (9th century). Nothing remains of this small church, although some features of the Romanesque church built in the 12thC can still be seen today.

The current abbey is a Renaissance work dating from the 16thC, whose demolition by Napoleonic troops meant it had to be extensively rebuilt. The façades of both the abbey and the monastery date from the 20thC. The temple was named a basilica in 1881 by Pope Leo XIII.

Stamps:

Fallas Festival, Valencia

(Issued 01-03-2022)

Personalities - Dolors Aleu, 1857-1913

(Issied 30-06-2022)

SPAIN ~ PortoPetro - Mallorca ~

....Holiday season has started here😊... and the first postcards from family and friends vacations are already arriving💖...  a beautiful aerial view of PortoPetro, one of the most picturesque areas of the island.... originally a small fishing village with a natural harbor that has managed to preserve its traditional charm to this day...  this little paradise is surrounded by impressive coves boasting crystal clear blue waters, small beaches, natural parks, open fields and farms featuring immense olive trees, sandy roads and forests with pine trees... Hééél Erg Bedankt Loes en Hilde! \_(♥‿♥)_/

PortoPetro is a village on the south-east coast of Mallorca within the district of Santanyí. 

PortoPetro was a trading port dating back to the 15thC, used for exporting Santanyí stone and importing wheat between the 15th and the early 19th centuries. There was even a customs office to control maritime trade. At the end of the 19thC, trading came to a halt and Porto Petro has since become a fishing port.

Stamp:

Tourism - Gastronomy 

(Issued 14-01-2022)

SPAIN ~Timanfaya National Park - Lanzarote - UNESCO ~

... Postcard nr2 coming from Lanzarote and showing the Timanfaya NP... with in the middle El Diablo a Devil sign by artist Cesar Manrique... the entrance and symbol of Timanfaya National Park... the absence of vegetation, the extreme ruggedness of the terrain, the variety of colours, the silhouettes of the volcanoes and the jagged coastline, all these make Timanfaya extraordinarily beautiful... it gives visitors a unique insight into the world of volcanoes when exploring the craters and peaks of this dramatic landscape...Thanks a lot Gian Luca and Raffaella! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Lanzarote is an island located on the west coast of Africa on the Atlantic Ocean. It is a unique island in the Canaries as 3/4 is covered with lava. 

It has no less than 300 craters belonging to 100 Volcanoes. Timanfaya was declared a National Park in 1974 and is located in the southwest of the island with an area of 51km² entirely made up of volcanic soil. 

Timanfaya National Park is one of the main parts of Lanzarote Reserve Biosphere reserve created by UNESCO in 1993

Stamp: 

Tourism - Gastronomy

(Issued 14-01-2022)

SPAIN ~ Espinelves - Catalonia ~

... Beautiful winter scene of a small medieval Catalan village with only 220 inhabitants... surrounded by silent forests, full of peace and quiet... the most characteristic element of the town is the Romanesque church built in the 11thC... or visit the Masjoan an arboretum of 400 hectares formed by 58 different species of conifers (some more than 40 meters high!)... among them is the tallest pine tree in Catalonia... forestry, which has been the traditional economic activity, has currently given rise to wood craftsmanship and the growing of Christmas trees and fir trees... one of its most famous annual festivals is the Fir Fair... it exhibits the different varieties of firs grown in Espinelves...  a town whose life revolves around this tree🌲... Thanks a lot Josep & Assumpta! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Espinelves is a village in the Osona region, but belonging to the province of Girona. It is located at an altitude of 750m, in the largest forest in Catalonia, in the Montseny-Guilleries area, between the Coll de Revell and the Coll del Bruc, for this reason we can find forests of oaks, firs, holm oaks and chestnut trees. 

 Stamps:

2X King Felipe VI 

(Issued 19-01-2015)

Order of the Fratres de Caceres 

(Issued 28-10-2020)

SPAIN ~Timanfaya National Park - Lanzarote - UNESCO ~

... A spectacular view that looks like the landscape of a different planet... the result of volcanic eruptions from as recently as 300 years ago... the area is covered mostly by volcanic cones and badlands with little elements of animal life including geckos and Atlantic lizards... this NP is Lanzarote's most popular tourist attraction and the only one of Spain's 15 national parks with a geological nature... every year close to one million people visited this unique lava landscape... Big Thanks once more Andrene! (✿◠‿◠)

Lanzarote is an island located on the west coast of Africa on the Atlantic Ocean. It is a unique island in the Canaries as 3/4 is covered with lava. It has no less than 300 craters belonging to 100 Volcanoes.

Timanfaya was declared a National Park in 1974 and is located in the southwest of the island with an area of 51km² entirely made up of volcanic soil.

Timanfaya National Park is one of the main parts of Lanzarote Reserve Biosphere reserve created by UNESCO in 1993.

Stamp:

Swiss Post

I noticed that the postcard had a Swiss Post stamp... you can send from Spain using Swiss Post service... in many souvenir shops, hotels, kiosks you can buy "Swiss Post stickers" that can be used to mail postcards from Spain to anywhere abroad... they must be placed in the yellow "Swiss Post Mail box"... Swiss Post will collect and dispatch your postcards...

SPAIN ~ Siurana - Catalonia ~

... Amazing view of a tiny picturesque historical village high in the mountains (I had to look very closely to find it😉) ... a village of officially 30 inhabitiants... perched at the top of a small cliff in Cornudella de Montsant with a stunning 360 view of the surrounding Prades mountains located in the heart of Catalonia... next to the endless rocks and cliffs you can find in this tale village many medieval houses, villas out of stones, cobblestones and narrow streets everywhere...  this amazing mountain of legends and cliffs is also well-known around the world by enthusiasts of rock climbing... with more than 1700 well protected sport climbing routes... Thanks a lot Josep&Assumpta! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Siurana is a village of the municipality of the Cornudella de Montsant in the comarca of Priorat, Tarragona andis situated in the catalan province called "Tarragona".

Prades Mountains, also known as Muntanyes de Prades, is a large calcareous mountain massif with many smaller subranges. These mountains have characteristic large and rounded rocky outcrops, the main peak is Tossal de la Baltasana (1203 m). They are mostly heavily forested with oak and pine trees, and the non-native chestnut tree has adapted to the local forests.

Stamp:

Holy Year of Santigao - Floreano by Gogue 

(Issued 27-05-2021)

SPAIN ~ Season's Greetings ~

... On Friday I got a few more lovely "Season's Greetings" postcards... must say, Belgian Post is really slow these days😞... first one shows a wonderful vintage gnomes or elves postcard by the well known Swedish postcard artist Erik Forsman who lived from 1916 to 1976... Thanks a lot dear Josep&Assumpta... Best Wishes for a very happy and healthy 2022! 🥂🎇🤩🌃🎆... loved the poem too!💖💝💖

Stamp:

Gabriela Mistral

(Issued 09-09-2021)

SPAIN ~ Poblet Monastery - Catalonia - UNESCO ~

... Panoramic view of a beautiful architectural element of great importance for the Cistercian community...  this 12thC cloister fountain and pavilion is located in the courtyard of the main cloister, in front of the refectory... the washbasin is built in marble and has 31 spouts...  the rules obliged the monks to pass through the basin before entering to eat and wash their hands... although currently their function is purely decorative... a community of more than 30 monks still lives in it in meditation, seclusion, manual labor and self-reliance... the Poblet Monastery is the most important of the 3 monasteries that make up what is known as the Cistercian Route of Catalonia... Thanks Belén!【ツ】

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. 

 It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991.

Stamp: 

Combat Corona Campaign - UNHCR Against COVID-19 

(Issued 18-06-2021)

SPAIN ~ Sant Jaume de Frontanya - Bergueda - Catalonia~

... Pretty view of one of the smallest settlements (only 30 inhabitants) of Catalonia in Pre-Pyrenees Region... the village is a small group of a little over twenty houses, arranged in part in two streets which converge in a square where the parish church is located.... well known for its peace and tranquility... the magnificent Church of Sant Jaume de Frontanya dating from the 11thC is located on a cliff that dominates the village... a perfect architectural example of the first Catalan Romanesque, both for its imposing dimensions and for the harmony of the forms... the only surviving building of the former Augustinian monastery secularized in 1592... Thanks a lot Josep & Assumpta! \_(♥‿♥)_/ 

Sant Jaume de Frontanya is located in the shadow of the Sierra de Catllerà,  at the beginning of the southern slope of the Pre-Pyrenees, below the peak of Pedró de Tubau (1543 m).

A mountainous orography occupied by Eurosiberian forests, with a predominance of Scots pine, oak  and pastures, makes it easy for agriculture, livestock and tourism to form its economic base. 

Stamps:

The Route of St. James' Way in Northern Spain 

(Issued  30-03-2020)

SPAIN ~ Sant Pere de Rodes - El Port de la Selva - Catalonia ~

... Spectacular monastery view that rises majestically on one of the peaks of the Serra de Rodes... more than 1000 years of history... one of the most impressive and ancient vestiges of Romanesque architecture in Catalonia... the great height of the mountain and proximity to the sea make that the first thing that the visitor sees of this monastery are its breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea... the second is the huge size of the building.... it represents a true colossus of architecture, both at the time it was built, as it is today... the monastery is one of the major tourist attractions of the Costa Brava and can be accessed by car or on foot...Thanks a lot Josep&Assumpta! (✿ ♥‿♥) 

Sant Pere de Rodes complex is made up of Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery, the town of Santa Creu and Verdera Castle, is in the heart of Cap de Creus Nature Reserve and part of the municipality of Port de la Selva. 

It was founded in the late 9thC during the expansion of the Benedictine monastic order in the Catalan counties promoted by the Frankish monarchy.

The main monument is Sant Pere Monastery and under its aegis Verdera Castle and the town of Santa Creu flourished.

Photo: © Ricard Pia 

Stamp:

 Museums 

(Issued 26-03-2021)

SPAIN ~ Montesquieu Castle - Osona - Catalonia ~

... Nice medieval castle view built high among green hills and valleys stretching for miles and offers fabulous views from each window... this castle is the central element of the 546 acres park that bears its name... in the park around it are two walking routes... it is open to the public, and in the summer many cultural events are held here... on the main floor of the castle and on the top floor there are various multipurpose rooms and attics for meetings or seminars... Thanks a lot Josep&Assumpta! (✿◠‿◠) 

                                                                  Photo: Eugeni Ordeig

Montesquieu Castle first appeared in documents dating back to 1285, when it was part of a defensive triangle that included the medieval castles of Besor and Saderra. The transformation from the defensive complex to the Montesquieu castle took place in the 14thC when the regional governor moved here from Besora.

Over the next few centuries, the castle underwent several structural changes.  The Provincial Council of Barcelona acquired the castle in 1976.

 

Stamp:

EUROPA Stamps - Ancient Postal Routes 

(Issued 14-05-2020)

SPAIN ~ Tower of the Hours - Pals - Catalonia ~

... Great view of one of the most charming villages located a few kilometres from the Mediterranean Sea, right on the Costa Brava... this gorgeous walled town perched on a hilltop was built around a fortress and has kept its medieval look so well that a visit to Pals is like travelling back in time... with cobblestone streets this town still has many of its aged stone arches, walkways, and balconies, all lovely restored... the main road into the village winds upwards towards the large tower which remains of the castle that once stood here... this impressive keep is a 15m high circular Romanesque tower dating from the 11-13th centuries... the tower is known as the Torre de les Hores (Tower of the Hours) as it was used as a clock tower in the 15thC... Thanks a lot Josep&Assumpta! (✿ ♥‿♥)  

Pals is a medieval town in Catalonia, northern Spain in the heart of the Bay of Emporda on the Costa Brava. 

The surrounding plains were once marshland and make the perfect environment for growing rice. Rice cultivation in the plains around Pals dates back to 1452.And some of the festivities tied to the traditional planting and harvesting methods still exist today. Pals rice has always been renowned for its high quality. 

 Stamp:

WWF Charity Stamp - Nature Protection 

(Issued 14-05-2020)

SPAIN ~ Casa Vicens - Barcelona - UNESCO ~

... Lovely view of the first house designed by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí...  it has been called “the house where it all began”, contain­ing many of the seeds that would blossom in Gaudí’s later works... it marks the beginning of Gaudí's artistic career and is considered to be one of the first masterpieces of Modernism... the most important source of inspiration in all Gaudí's work is the world of nature... the building is covered with spectacular green and white tiles... the facades are full of details (sculptures, earthenwares, ironworks)...  today the house has been transformed into a museum... although the least famous of Gaudi's work it is definitely worth seeing... Thanks a lot Josep&Assumpta! (✿ ♥‿♥)




Designed by the 31-year-old Gaudí between 1883 and 1885, Casa Vicens was built as a summer home for stockmarket dealer and broker Manel Vicens i Montaner.








Casa Vicens was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005  and is one of eight projects that the architect built in or near Barcelona.





Stamp:


EUROPA Stamps - National Birds
(Issued 23-04-2019)

SPAIN ~Garajonay National Park - La Gomera - UNESCO~

... Canary Islands beauty nr 2💚... wonderful evergreen forest view with tourist footpath... the Garajonay National Park lies at the very heart of La Gomera... this park, contrasts with the rest of the Canary Islands... instead of volcanic landscapes it is a densely forested area with laurel trees... a jewel of nature... the second smallest and one of the most unspoiled islands of the Canary Islands... the Garajonay NP is an area of evergreen mist-covered forests... a prehistoric landscape that has been sculpted over millions of years... the Park has a unique ecosystem and is of extreme ecological importance... the highest point of La Gomera is found in the national park and on a clear day you can see the islands of El Hierro, La Palma, Tenerife and Gran Canaria... a major tourist attraction... the park has an extensive network of trails for hiking... also a Visitor and Information Center... Thank you very much dear Andrene! (✿◠‿◠)

Photo: J. Barea
Located in central and northern parts of the La Gomera Island,  the Garajonay National Park encompasses an area of around 40 km2.  It is named after the highest point on the island, a rock formation, which stands at 1,484 m. Garajonay was designated a National Park in 1981.

Mostly forest landscapes but there are also numerous different plant formations to be seen; everything from the laurisilva, through white tree heath, mocan and the strawberry tree.

As with most island ecosystems the variety of mammals on the island is limited, as the surrounding sea hinders migration, although endemic populations of reptiles and frogs are well represented and there are 27 species of bird, including the Eurasian Sparrowhawk, the White Tailed Laurel Pigeon and the Barbary Partridge.

La Gomera National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.

Stamp:

The 100th Anniversary of the Castillos de Valderas
(Issued 10-04-2018)