SPAIN - Historic Walled Town of Cuenca

"Built by the Moors in a defensive position at the heart of the Caliphate of Cordoba, Cuenca is an unusually well-preserved medieval fortified city. Conquered by the Castilians in the 12th century, it became a royal town and bishopric endowed with important buildings, such as Spain's first Gothic cathedral, and the famous casas colgadas (hanging houses), suspended from sheer cliffs overlooking the Huécar river. Taking full advantage of its location, the city towers above the magnificent countryside." -https://whc.unesco.org

Thank you so much Belen for this awesome UNESCO postcard!

SPAIN - Caliphate City of Medina Azahara

"The Caliphate city of Medina Azahara is an archaeological site of a city built in the mid-10th century CE by the Umayyad dynasty as the seat of the Caliphate of Cordoba. After prospering for several years, it was laid to waste during the civil war that put an end to the Caliphate in 1009-1010. The remains of the city were forgotten for almost 1,000 years until their rediscovery in the early 20th century. This complete urban ensemble features infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water systems, buildings, decorative elements and everyday objects. It provides in-depth knowledge of the now vanished Western Islamic civilization of Al-Andalus, at the height of its splendour." -https://whc.unesco.org

Thank you so much, Boris for this awesome postcard with an awesome stamps too!
Especially that of a pawn in chess. ^-^
You may visit Palawan too someday...
Such a happy thought that you've been able to visit Manila
and Boracay 10 years ago...

SPAIN - Antequera Dolmens Site

"Located at the heart of Andalusia in southern Spain, the site comprises three megalithic monuments: the Menga and Viera dolmens and the Tholos of El Romeral, and two natural monuments: La Peña de los Enamorados and El Torcal mountainous formations, which are landmarks within the property. Built during the Neolithic and Bronze Age out of large stone blocks, these monuments form chambers with lintelled roofs or false cupolas. These three tombs, buried beneath their original earth tumuli, are one of the most remarkable architectural works of European prehistory and one of the most important examples of European Megalithism." -https://whc.unesco.org

Thank you so much Jordi for this great postcard!

It's amazing to see such view!

SPAIN - Works of Antoni Gaudí

"Seven properties built by the architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) in or near Barcelona testify to Gaudí’s exceptional creative contribution to the development of architecture and building technology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These monuments represent an eclectic, as well as a very personal, style which was given free reign in the design of gardens, sculpture and all decorative arts, as well as architecture. The seven buildings are: Casa Vicens; Gaudí’s work on the Nativity façade and Crypt of La Sagrada Familia; Casa Batlló; Crypt in Colonia Güell." -http://whc.unesco.org

Postcard 1: The 7 Properties

Thank you so much Cristina for this card! 

I wish to receive  another one that's written and stamped someday! =)

Postcard 2: Casa Vicens


A Christmas present!
Thank you so much Sandra for sharing with me this hard to get postcard!
This is very much appreciated! ^-^


Postcard 3: Casa Batlló

"This card shows the roof of the Batlló House", shares Clara.

Thank you so much Clara for this colorful card! =)


Postcard 4: Casa Batlló

 
Thank you so much, Jean Pierre for this wonderful surprise postcard of one of Gaudi's masterpieces in Spain!
Ohh and you sent it from Gibraltar!
Maraming salamat!


Postcard 5: La Sagrada Familia & Casa Batlló

 
Ate Queenie in Barcelona!
Thank you so much for this wonderful surprise postcard Ate!!!
Best regards and take care always!!!

SPAIN - Monastery and Site of the Escurial, Madrid

"Built at the end of the 16th century on a plan in the form of a grill, the instrument of the martyrdom of St Lawrence, the Escurial Monastery stands in an exceptionally beautiful site in Castile. Its austere architecture, a break with previous styles, had a considerable influence on Spanish architecture for more than half a century. It was the retreat of a mystic king and became, in the last years of Philip II's reign, the centre of the greatest political power of the time." -http://whc.unesco.org

Thank you so much Anita of Austria for this aerial view postcard

showing the Monastery of San Lorenzo of El Escorial.

SPAIN - Las Médulas

"In the 1st century A.D. the Roman Imperial authorities began to exploit the gold deposits of this region in north-west Spain, using a technique based on hydraulic power. After two centuries of working the deposits, the Romans withdrew, leaving a devastated landscape. Since there was no subsequent industrial activity, the dramatic traces of this remarkable ancient technology are visible everywhere as sheer faces in the mountainsides and the vast areas of tailings, now used for agriculture." -http://whc.unesco.org

Postcard 1: El Bierzo on a Sunny Day

Thank you so much Loly for sharing with me this card! =)

Postcard 2: El Bierzo during Winter

It's really amazing how a certain place turns into a different view on different seasons in other parts of this universe.
I really wish to experience snow one day.
Thank you so much Belen for sharing this postcard with me!
Thank you so much also for using such great stamp!
I love the story behind the Taj Mahal... ^-^

SPAIN - Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias

"In the 9th century the flame of Christianity was kept alive in the Iberian peninsula in the tiny Kingdom of the Asturias. Here an innovative pre-Romanesque architectural style was created that was to play a significant role in the development of the religious architecture of the peninsula. Its highest achievements can be seen in the churches of Santa María del Naranco, San Miguel de Lillo, Santa Cristina de Lena, the Cámara Santa and San Julián de los Prados, in and around the ancient capital city of Oviedo. Associated with them is the remarkable contemporary hydraulic engineering structure known as La Foncalada." -http://whc.unesco.org

Postcard 1

"I can see the monument from my window", shares May.

You are indeed a very lucky girl to be residing near this UNESCO Site!

Thank you so much May for this great card!

Postcard 2

A surprise postcard form somebody named Javier!
Thank you so much for this wonderful postcard!
Please email me your address so I can send you one in return...
My email: itravelcorp_jan@yahoo.com.ph

SPAIN - Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe

"The monastery is an outstanding repository of four centuries of Spanish religious architecture. It symbolizes two significant events in world history that occurred in 1492: the Reconquest of the Iberian peninsula by the Catholic Kings and Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas. Its famous statue of the Virgin became a powerful symbol of the Christianization of much of the New World." -http://whc.unesco.org/

"As curiosity, the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico's name was taken here...", shares Oscar of Merida, Spain.

Thank you so much Oscar for increasing my UNESCO collection!

SPAIN - Historic City of Toledo

"Successively a Roman municipium, the capital of the Visigothic Kingdom, a fortress of the Emirate of Cordoba, an outpost of the Christian kingdoms fighting the Moors and, in the 16th century, the temporary seat of supreme power under Charles V, Toledo is the repository of more than 2,000 years of history. Its masterpieces are the product of heterogeneous civilizations in an environment where the existence of three major religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – was a major factor." -http://whc.unesco.org

Postcard 1

"The card shows the San Martin bridge,

a medieval bridge across the Tagus River in Toledo.

It was built in the 16th century to provide access to the old town from the west.

Defensive towers stand at each end of the bridge...", shares Fabienne.

Thank you so much Fabienne for sharing this great postcard with me!

Postcard 2

"In this aerial view, the two most conspicuous buildings are the
Cathedral (on the left) and the Alcazar (a palace-castle, on the right).
The former boasts some amazing El Greco's paintings and the latter, the Museum of the Army. Both are very interesting...", shares Oscar.
Thank you so much Oscar for this great postcard!
I have yet to discover why the stamps have no denomination(?)

SPAIN - Vizcaya Bridge

"Vizcaya Bridge straddles the mouth of the Ibaizabal estuary, west of Bilbao. It was designed by the Basque architect Alberto de Palacio and completed in 1893. The 45-m-high bridge with its span of 160 m, merges 19th-century ironworking traditions with the then new lightweight technology of twisted steel ropes. It was the first bridge in the world to carry people and traffic on a high suspended gondola and was used as a model for many similar bridges in Europe, Africa and the America only a few of which survive. With its innovative use of lightweight twisted steel cables, it is regarded as one of the outstanding architectural iron constructions of the Industrial Revolution." -http://whc.unesco.org

The card I long waited for!

Thank you so much Rosalina for sharing this wonderful postcard with me!

I salute the man behind the making of this bridge...

You can watch more about the Vizcaya Bridge story HERE...

SPAIN - Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches

"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." -http://whc.unesco.org

Postcard 1

Thank you again Cesar for this postcard!

The stamp with a bear is sooo cute! Thanks!

Postcard 2

I just love the night view of this postcard...
Thank you so much, Oscar!

SPAIN - Poblet Monastery

"This Cistercian abbey in Catalonia is one of the largest in Spain. At its centre is a 12th-century church. The austere, majestic monastery, which has a fortified royal residence and contains the pantheon of the kings of Catalonia and Aragon, is an impressive sight." -http://whc.unesco.org

"This is the Poblet Monastery... a very beautiful place", shares Sandra.

Many thanks Sandra for trimming down my wanted UNESCO cards!

SPAIN (Canary Islands) - Teide National Park

"Situated on the island of Tenerife, Teide National Park features the Teide-Pico Viejo stratovolcano that, at 3,718 m, is the highest peak on Spanish soil. Rising 7,500 m above the ocean floor, it is regarded as the world’s third-tallest volcanic structure and stands in a spectacular environment. The visual impact of the site is all the greater due to atmospheric conditions that create constantly changing textures and tones in the landscape and a ‘sea of clouds’ that forms a visually impressive backdrop to the mountain. Teide is of global importance in providing evidence of the geological processes that underpin the evolution of oceanic islands. " -http://whc.unesco.org

Postcard 1 : Sent from Poland

Thank you so much "Bodexs" for this wonderful card!

(a Spanish UNESCO card sent from Poland)

Postcard 2: Sent from Madrid, Spain

Thank you so much, Cesar for this wonderful postcard
and for the cute stamps!


Postcard 2: Sent from Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain

Another wonderful card from Adolfo of Las Palmas, Canary Islands.
Thank you so much, Adolfo! :)

SPAIN (Canary Islands) - San Cristóbal de La Laguna

"San Cristóbal de La Laguna, in the Canary Islands, has two nuclei: the original, unplanned Upper Town; and the Lower Town, the first ideal 'city-territory' laid out according to philosophical principles. Its wide streets and open spaces have a number of fine churches and public and private buildings dating from the 16th to the 18th century." -http://whc.unesco.org

Very nice postcard of San Cristóbal de La Laguna!

With great stamps too! Mailed in Las Palmas, Canary Islands.

Thank you so much Adolfo! ^-^

SPAIN - Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain

"Seventeen decorated caves of the Paleolithic age were inscribed as an extension to the Altamira Cave, inscribed in 1985. The property will now appear on the List as Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain. The property represents the apogee of Paleolithic cave art that developed across Europe, from the Urals to the Iberian Peninusula, from 35,000 to 11,000 BC. Because of their deep galleries, isolated from external climatic influences, these caves are particularly well preserved. The caves are inscribed as masterpieces of creative genius and as the humanity’s earliest accomplished art. They are also inscribed as exceptional testimonies to a cultural tradition and as outstanding illustrations of a significant stage in human history." -http://whc.unesco.org

Thank you so much Mario for adding this to my UNESCO collection! =)

SPAIN - Renaissance Monumental Ensembles of Úbeda and Baeza

"The urban morphology of the two small cities of Úbeda and Baeza in southern Spain dates back to the Moorish 9th century and to the Reconquista in the 13th century. An important development took place in the 16th century, when the cities were subject to renovation along the lines of the emerging Renaissance. This planning intervention was part of the introduction into Spain of new humanistic ideas from Italy, which went on to have a great influence on the architecture of Latin America." -http://whc.unesco.org

Thank you so much for this neat card, Hector! =)

SPAIN - Cultural Landscape of the Serra de Tramuntana

"The Cultural Landscape of the Serra de Tramuntana located on a sheer-sided mountain range parallel to the north-western coast of the island of Mallorca. Millennia of agriculture in an environment with scarce resources has transformed the terrain and displays an articulated network of devices for the management of water revolving around farming units of feudal origins. The landscape is marked by agricultural terraces and inter-connected water works - including water mills - as well as dry stone constructions and farms." -http://whc.unesco.org

Beautiful scenery indeed, Fabienne!

Thank you so much for this great card!