DE-13872776

 The ID of this card is German and I thought this was a German castle. However, when I google about it, I realized that Kreuzenstein Castle is actually an Austrian castle, located just a few kilometers north of Vienna. It is one of the most beautiful historical sights in Lower Austria.

mauritius images / Hans Blossey

DE-13872776, sent by Lucie.

Burg Kreuzenstein was constructed on the remains of a medieval castle that had fallen into disrepair and was then demolished during the Thirty Years' War (1618 to 1648). 

Intended to be a family vault for the Wilczek family, it was rebuilt in the 19th century by Count Nepomuk Wilczek with money from the family's large Silesian coal mines. Kreuzenstein is interesting in that it was constructed out of sections of medieval structures purchased by the family from all over Europe to form an authentic-looking castle. Thus, the castle can be considered both a 'neo-' and 'original' medieval structure. The castle is sometimes used as a location for films. - in: wikipedia

Palermo's Cathedral - Italy

    Palermo's Cathedral is one of nine religious and civic structures located on the northern coast of Sicily classified in 2015 as UNESCO WHS, under the name Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalù and Monreale.

© SIMEPHOTO - ph. Giovanni Simeone - all rights reserved

    The cathedral is located in the oldest sacred area of Palermo, where the Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines and Arabs had previously built their own places of worship. When the Normans took power, they immediately replaced the Muslim mosque with a Christian church. However, the archbishop of Palermo, Gualtiero Offamilio, had the building demolished in 1184 and began the construction of a new splendid cathedral, a symbol of religious power in the city. A year later, the church was consecrated and dedicated to Maria Assunta.

© Huber Images / Bartuccio

DE-13872777, sent by Dan.

    Over the course of the following centuries, additions and restorations modified the original building. This union of apparently incongruous different styles gives life to a grandiose and harmonious whole. - in: https://www.visitsicily.info

    A major attraction for anyone visiting Palermo’s Cathedral are the royal tombs. Particularly the tomb of Emperor Frederick II and his family members, Emperors Henry VI of Hohenstaufen and Constance of Altavilla. The cathedral is now considered Palermo's most important place of worship.

US-10114943

    Getting a card from a country as an official from a different one is not that unusual but getting a card from my own country as an official from another one is rare and a bit strange. Vicky sent me this card of Lello Bookstore in Porto. I love Porto and I've visited this bookstore 2 or 3 times, always with postcrossing friends. I've cards showing the beautiful façade, I didn't have any showing the interior.

 

© 2020 by Jeff Miller

US-10114943, sent by Vicky.

    Lonely Planet considered Lello & Irmão Bookstore as the third most beautiful library in the world. The store has an excellent neo-gothic façade, where you can see two figures painted by José Bielman, representing the Science and the Art. This facade is only surpassed by its stunning interior, designed by Xavier Esteves.

The building was inaugurated on January 13th, 1906, in an important social event for both Portuguese and Brazilian societies, attended by famous people from different spheres – among them Guerra Junqueiro, a renowned Portuguese writer.

As you walk through the doors of this bookstore you’ll notice that there is a marvelous stairway and the wooden walls are also very exquisite. The stained glass ceiling adds an amazing detail with Lello’s motto “vecus in labore”.

Rumor has it that J.K. Rowling’s inspiration to write Harry Potter has begun in Porto, particularly at this library. The well-known writer lived in Porto working while as an English teacher in the early 1990s and she used to drink a cup of coffee at the second floor of Lello’s bookstore. There are indeed great similarities between Lello’s bookstore staircase and the one described in Hogwarts. - in: https://www.localporto.com

Todos '13 - Lisbon

One day I'll go to Lisbon just to do an urban art itinerary. There is so much to see.

 

© José Vicente 2013 / 2016 Ed. 19 de Abril

This is a mural in São Bento street, which was part of the Festival Todos in 2013. Done by akaCorleone and Iamfromlx, this is a beautiful typographic and vibrant wall in the heart of Lisboa.

The card was sent by Paula.

Shazdeh Garden - Iran

    A few months ago I posted a card from Iran and mentioned that a 2nd one got lost. Well, it didn't get lost, it only took a scenic route to get here. I was more than happy to find it in my mailbox and add a new UNESCO site to my collection. Shazdeh Garden (aka Shahzadeh Garden) is one of the 9 registered Persian Gardens on the UNESCO World Heritage list. 

The card was sent by Ehsan.

 

    The name Shazdeh Garden literally means ‘The Prince’s Garden’. This garden is located in the outskirts of Mahan city and was built during the Qajar dynasty (1794 – 1925) by the order of Kerman’s governor. Shazdeh Garden is the the largest and one of the best examples of Persian Gardens in Iran. It is located in a dry and hot region, but what makes this garden stand out, is the green and lush trees and vegetation in the garden. 

    Thanks to the smart water control system, the garden enjoys a mild temperature throughout the year. The melted snow from the nearby mountains is controlled using Qanats and flows from the most upper part of the garden where the main pavilion is located, and goes all the way to the entrance of the garden and eventually to the city of Mahan. The water flow in the garden and even the original fountains completely rely on gravity to function. 

    If you take a closer look at the entrance of Shazdeh Garden, you can notice a few spots without any designs or tile works. The royal inhabitants of the garden were known to be hostile to civilians, thus when the mason of the garden found out that the prince who resided there had been killed, he happily threw the mortar away without completing his job. - in: https://www.tappersia.com

Tallinn - Estonia

Cards from beautiful Tallinn, both shower the round Fat Margaret's Tower and St. Olaf Church with it's St. Olaf Church in the background. 

The 1st card was sent by my friend Anne. I don't remember who sent the other one.

 

 Photo: Toomas Tull

Standing guard at the north end of Pikk street are two of Tallinn's most impressive defensive structures, the Great Coastal Gate (Suur Rannavärav) and Fat Margaret's Tower (Paks Margareeta).

The origins of Fat Margaret's name are a mystery. Some theories insist it was named for one of its larger cannons, while others hint at a cook called Margaret who once worked here.

In any case, the tower has served a number of different functions throughout its history. It has been used a storehouse for gunpowder and weapons, and as a prison.

 

Now it's home to the Estonian Maritime Museum, which provides a detailed look at the nation's seafaring past. Visitors should be sure to climb up to its rooftop viewing platform to get a lovely view of Old Town and the bay." - in: http://www.tourism.tallinn.ee

 

BY-3075045

The previous cards was the last official of 2023 and this card was the 1st, and so far, the only official I've received this year.

 

BY-3075045, sent by Ludmila.

An image from the past of Minsk. 

Previously known as the Governor’s Garden, Gorky Park was Eastern Europe’s first public garden. The park was founded on May 1, 1805.