UY-2977

An ID only with 4 digits, I don't remember when was the last time that happened. This is my 1st official card from Uruguay and only my 4th card from this country. Another neat detail is that it was fully written in Portuguese. Obrigada Natalia. 

Teatro Solís, in Montevideo, is Uruguay’s oldest and most renowned cultural theater.

 SYNA Producciones

UY-2977, sent by Natalia.

Located in Montevideo’s Plaza Independencia, the building is a perfect example of neoclassical, Old World architectural splendor. 

The theater was designed by the Italian architect Carlo Zucchi using timber and marble brought over from Europe and stored away while war raged in Uruguay. After years of delay, the theater finally opened in 1856 with a rendition of Verdi’s opera Ernani. 

The design—including the elegant façade (which has been completely restored), carved canopy and pillars, and elliptical interior—was heavily influenced by Italian architecture. The similarities can be seen in the Teatro Carlo in Genoa, the Milanese Teatro alla Scala, and most of all the Teatro Metastasio di Prato near Florence. - in: https://www.atlasobscura.com

Budj Bim Cultural Landscape - Australia

New UNESCO site in the blog!! This doesn't happen that often nowadays. This one from Australia was one of the last added to the UNESCO list. Due to this pandemic the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee, initially scheduled for 29 June - 9 July 2020 was postponed. In November the Committee has decided to hold an extended 44th session in June/July 2021 in Fuzhou, China. I'm already anxious to know the candidate sites.

On 6 July 2019 Budj Bim Cultural Landscape became the first site in Australia to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List purely for its Aboriginal cultural significance.

Photograph: Benjamin Church

The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, located in the traditional Country of the Gunditjmara people in south-eastern Australia, consists of three serial components containing one of the world’s most extensive and oldest aquaculture systems. The Budj Bim lava flows provide the basis for the complex system of channels, weirs and dams developed by the Gunditjmara in order to trap, store and harvest kooyang (short-finned eel – Anguilla australis). The highly productive aquaculture system provided an economic and social base for Gunditjmara society for six millennia. The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is the result of a creational process narrated by the Gunditjmara as a deep time story, referring to the idea that they have always lived there. From an archaeological perspective, deep time represents a period of at least 32,000 years. The ongoing dynamic relationship of Gunditjmara and their land is nowadays carried by knowledge systems retained through oral transmission and continuity of cultural practice. - in: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1577/

Card sent by Helen.

RU-8203154

Nice card but no idea where was it from. After some research and the help of google images, I came to the conclusion that this is one of Kronstadt lighthouses. 

From the beginning of  18th century Kronstadt has been a sea-port. So Kronstadt port needed lighthouses for safe navigation.  The oldest lighthouse of Russia  was constructed in Kronstadt.

RU-8203154, sent by Oleg.

Sometimes identified as the Kronstadt Lighhouse, the Kabotazhnaya Gavan Rear Range Light is a 95 foot high structure, built in the 20th century, located on the Petrovskaya Pristan mole (breakwater) in the main harbour at the Kronstadt Naval Station, Kotlin Island, Russia. Kotlin Island is Northwest of the City of St. Petersburg. 

LV-374086

Most of my Latvian cards are from Riga, it is nice to get cards from other places of the country too, especially when they're this great. 

Aglona is famous in Latvia and beyond for its Basilica of the Assumption — the most important Catholic church in the country. 

LV-374086, sent by Dzeimss (?).

The church and monastery were founded by the Dominican fathers in 1700. The original wooden church and monastery were razed in the 1760s and construction for a new church was begun in 1768 and completed by 1800 when it was consecrated.

 It attracts tens of thousands of pilgrims every year on the day of the Assumption of Mary (15 August) as well as on Pentecost. The historic icon of the Aglona Mother of God is considered miraculous and has long been an object of veneration. Its dates to the 17th century and its authorship is unknown.

In 1980 the Church celebrated its 200th anniversary and was officially given the status of a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II. In 1986 it was the site of celebration of the 800th anniversary of Christianity in Latvia. A major renovation of the basilica and expansion of the church grounds was begun in 1992 in preparation for the pope's visit. The shrine was visited by Pope John Paul II in September 1993 and over 300,000 pilgrims assembled at that time. Pope Francis visited in September 2018. - in: wikipedia

Church of Saints Simon and Helena - Belarus

Mixing pics and paintings to show a church in Minsk.

BY-519701, sent by Kate.

 This Catholic church (better known as «Red Church») was build in 1908-1910 by a noble Belarusian family upon the premature death of their two young children. 

BY-1667744, sent by Sophie.

The church with red-brick towers, spires, and pitched roofs became a symbol of inconsolable grief for those who died untimely. When the Bolsheviks came to power, the church became a cinema then a film studio. 

BY-219469, sent by Anna.

Only not long ago, in 1990, the church was given back its original status. Services here start at 7 p.m. - in:http://www.hotels-minsk.com/churches-simon-helena.htm/

Nesvizh Palace - Belarus

Nesvizh Palace is considered the country’s most beautiful palace by the people of Belarus. Its richly diverse architecture and attractive gardens make it one of the most popular tourist attractions in Belarus.

Nesvizh Palace is on the Nesvizh Estate, one of the oldest settlements and most famous places in Belarus. 

The estate and town was acquired by the Radziwil family in the middle of the 16th century, and they stayed there until 1939 when they were expelled by the invading Red Army.

The foundation stone of Nesvizh Palace was laid in 1584. It was rebuilt many times and as a consequence has features of many architectural styles including: Renaissance; Baroque; Rococo; Classicism; Neo-gothic; Modernism. 

BY-180374, sent by Helena.

In 1770 Nesvizh Palace was seized by Russian forces and the Lithuanian Archive removed and sent to Saint Petersburg where it remains to this day. Much of the artwork was distributed among Russian nobility.

 

BY-2698716, sent by Nadya.

In the late 19th century Nesvizh Palace was restored by the Radziwil family who also designed one of largest landscape gardens in Europe on the estate.

After World War 2 Nesvizh Palace was used as a Sanatorium and the gardens became neglected.

In 1994 the estate was designated the national historical and cultural reserve and in 2006 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. - in: https://www.belarus.by

Kiev Pechersk Lavra - Ukraine

The Kiev Pechersk Lavra is one of the many attractions in the capital city of Ukraine. 

Kiev Pechersk Lavra, also known as the Kiev Monastery of the Caves, is an historic Orthodox Christian monastery which gave its name to one of the city districts where it is located in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.

Since its foundation as the cave monastery in 1015, the Lavra has been a preeminent center of the Eastern Orthodox Christianity in Eastern Europe.

UA-1748044, sent by Yuriy.

Together with the Saint Sophia Cathedral, it is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monastery complex is considered a separate national historic-cultural preserve (sanctuary), the national status to which was granted on March 13, 1996. 

UA-1794626, sent by Sofia.

The Lavra also not only located in another part of the city, but is part of a different national sanctuary than Saint Sophia Cathedral. While being a cultural attraction, the monastery is currently active.

It was named one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine on August 21, 2007, based on voting by experts and the internet community. - in: wikipedia

NL-2327551, sent by Kseniia.

These building are the Uspenskyy Cathedral, on the left side, and the Refectory Church, on the right side, both part of the monastery .

The Uspenskyy Cathedral was built in the XI century. It was blown up in 1941 during World War II and only rebuilt in 1999.

The Refectory Church is a refectory and an adjoining church of Saint Anthony and Theodosius. In the refectory, the Lavra monks had their meals. The building was constructed in 1893-1895 at a time when more than a thousand monks were living within the monastery.