UNESCO - Rock-Hewn Churches Of Ivanovo, Bulgaria

In the valley of the Roussenski Lom River, in north east Bulgaria, a complex of rock-hewn churches, chapels, monasteries and cells developed in the vicinity of the village of Ivanovo. This is where the first hermits had dug out their cells and churches during the 12th century. The 14th-century murals testify to the exceptional skill of the artists belonging to the Tarnovo School of painting.

One of those places you rarely come across on sites about travelling, even though they look utterly fascinating. Lilia did so much for my Bulgarian section of Unesco sites :)

UNESCO - Mount Etna, Italy

Mount Etna is the highest Mediterranean island mountain (Sicily) and the most active stratovolcano in the world. World Heritage Site (19,237 ha) comprises the most strictly protected and scientifically important area of Mount Etna, and forms part of the Parco dell’Etna Regional Nature Park. The eruptive history of the volcano can be traced back 500,000 years and at least 2,700 years of this activity has been documented, making its notoriety, scientific importance, and cultural and educational value of global significance.

I love the contrast between the constructive and destructive force of nature, with very feeble line to divide them. I think it shows just how fragile and uncertain this world is. Great matching stamp, was so thrilled to get this for my collection! Grazie Daniele:))

UNESCO - Djémila, Algeria

The site of Djémila is located 50 km north-east of the town of Sétif. Known under its antique name Cuicul, Djémila is an establishment of an ancient Roman colony founded during the reign of Nerva (96 - 98 A.D.). The Roman town occupied a singular defensive position.

Situated 900 m above sea-level, Djémila/Cuicul, with its forum, temples, basilicas, triumphal arches and houses, is an interesting example of Roman town planning adapted to a mountain location.

Many many thanks to Riyad who has been so generous with Unesco cards for my collection! :))

Detail From Damanhur Temple

The Federation of Damahunr, often called simply Damanhur, is a commune, ecovillage, and spiritual community situated in the Piedmont region of northern Italy about 30 miles (50 km) north of the city of Turin. It is located in the foothills of the Alps in the Chiusella Valley, bordering on the Gran Paradiso National Park. The community has its own constitution and currency, the Credito.

On the photo is a detail of the glass dome in the Hall of Mirrors. Great colours!

A dear friend went there and gave me an insight into this interesting world :)

River View By Moonlight

A somewhat melancholic painting, but still beautiful...from ca 1645, by a landscape painter of the Dutch Golden Age, Aert van der Neer - he specialised in small night scenes lit only by moonlight and fires, and snowy winter landscapes, both often looking down a canal or river.

Italian Landscape With Umbrella Pines

Beautiful painting by the Dutch painter and printmaker Hendrik Voogd, (1768 – 1839), displayed in the Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum.

Rijksmuseum Vintage

The Rijksmuseum  is a Netherlands national museum dedicated to arts and history, situated in Amsterdam. It was founded in The Hague in 1800 and moved to Amsterdam in 1808; the current main building was designed by Pierre Cuypers and first opened its doors in 1885 - on 13 April 2013, after a ten-year renovation which cost € 375 million, the main building was reopened by Queen Beatrix.

This postcard shows the north facade at the turn of the last century.

 

Panoramic View Of São Paulo, Brazil

São Paulo is a municipality, metropolis and global city located in southeastern Brazil. It is the most populous city in Brazil, in the Americas, and the world's twelfth largest city by population. 

Sent the day after the 2014 World Cup final, where São Paulo was also one of the host cities - it will actually be remembered in Croatia for it was the city where the opening game vs Brazil was played. Thank you Christine :)

Maiko Girls In Kyoto In December

I have titled the postcard as written on the back, though I am curious if this view in any way specifically denotes December. I'd love to know what the tiles represent! There were times when I more actively collected Maiko postcards, now I don't spend that much time in the official forum...where quite a few swappers from Japan offer great cards such as this one. Many thanks to Yuka :)

Wayang Shadow Puppet Theatre, Indonesia

UNESCO designated wayang kulit, a shadow puppet theatre and the best known of the Indonesian wayang, as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on 7 November 2003. In return for the acknowledgment, UNESCO required Indonesians to preserve their heritage.

Wayang kulit is a unique form of theatre employing light and shadow. The puppets are crafted from buffalo hide and mounted on bamboo sticks. When held up behind a piece of white cloth, with an electric bulb or an oil lamp as the light source, shadows are cast on the screen. The plays are invariably based on romantic tales, especially adaptations of the classic Indian epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. Some of the plays are also based on local happening or other local secular stories. It is up to the conductor or dalang (puppeteer) to decide his direction.

Many thanks Shinta :)

Vintage Cannes Film Festival Poster

I love the elegance of this scene...Wanted to post this during Cannes festival, missed it twice and I am sure I would do so again heh. Merci mon ami.

Sunset Of Liberty

Pun not intended! I have already posted about this iconic statue, now I am showing off the awesome stamps with Janis and Jimmy :)) Tnx Arnold!

UNESCO - Würzburg Residence, Germany

This magnificent Baroque palace was created under the patronage of the prince-bishops Lothar Franz and Friedrich Carl von Schönborn. It was built and decorated in the 18th century by an international team of architects, painters (including Tiepolo), sculptors and stucco-workers, led by Balthasar Neumann.

Danke Ingrid :)

UNESCO - Bath, UK

Bath is a city in Somerset county, south-west England. The city was first established as a spa with the Latin name Aquae Sulis by the Romans sometime in the AD 60s, about 20 years after they had arrived in Britain. The Roman remains, especially the Temple of Sulis Minerva and the baths complex, are amongst the most famous and important Roman remains north of the Alps.

The Roman Baths themselves are below the modern street level - the buildings above street level date from the 19th century. I have been to Bath but not the Roman Baths...sadly. But the city is gorgeous!

The view of the baths thanks to Anu and another great swap, with a matching stamp (yay!) and Hereford Bull, cute!

UNESCO - Frontiers Of The Roman Empire, UK

 

Hadrian's Wall was a defensive fortification in Roman Britain, begun in AD 122. It was 80 miles long, stretching from west to the east coast of Britain (Carlisle to Corbridge); during time much of the wall has disappeared, the building stone being used in road construction in the 18th century.

In the summer of 2009 we had four days to drive to the north and walk parts of the Hadrian's Wall Path :) I cannot describe the feeling, walking the green hills...there was, and is, something strangely homely about it. The weather served us well as we camped along the way, local people were very friendly and many cow and sheep saw us through lol Needless to say I'd love to go back and do the whole stretch..!

The place on the last photo is amazing - it is called Sycamore Gap and has become widely known for a movie scene - thats why its also called Robin Hood Tree :)

Stad Amsterdam

The Stad Amsterdam (City of Amsterdam) is a three-masted clipper that was built in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in 2000 at the Damen Shipyard. It was modelled after the mid-19th century frigate Amsterdam, but she is not a replica - a major difference is that the hull is made of steel.

In September 2009 Stad Amsterdam was refitted to accommodate a televised research expedition, tracing the second voyage of HMS Beagle (1831–1836).The ship re-sailed the route of the Beagle in approximately 8 months while collecting information to allow comparison between Charles Darwin's Beagle observations and the current ones.

The show was aired by the Dutch public broadcaster VPRO as Beagle: In Darwin's wake.

Ruwanwelisaya Chedi, Sri Lanka

Ruwanwelisaya Chedi is situated in the sacred city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka (which makes it a UNESCO site - but I have covered it in another post :)) built by King Dutugemunu c. 140 B.C. The stupa is one of the world's tallest monuments, standing at 103 m and with a circumference of 290 m.

Thanks to Umama Ya :)

Blue Pond, Japan

The Blue Pond, or Aoiike (青い池) is a small, artificial pond located outside the hot spring town, Shirogane Onsen in Biei, Hokkaido.  The pond’s name comes from the deep blue colour caused by the interplay of sunlight and natural minerals dissolved in the water. 

Thanks to Mika, and offers tag :)

Brighton Night Street View, UK

Once upon a time, I visited this hip british coastal town for the 2nd time...and I hope there will be a 3rd one.

UNESCO - Brasilia, Brazil

 

Brasilia, a capital created ex nihilo in the centre of the country in 1956, was a landmark in the history of town planning. Urban planner Lucio Costa and architect Oscar Niemeyer intended that every element – from the layout of the residential and administrative districts (often compared to the shape of a bird in flight) to the symmetry of the buildings themselves – should be in harmony with the city’s overall design. The official buildings, in particular, are innovative and imaginative.

A while ago I have received a postcard showing the Supreme Federal Court, and last year I've swapped/tagged for views of the Cathedral of Brasília. I really appreciate everyone using different stamps!