US-9480883

With 65 historical lighthouses still standing and spread out along 5,000 miles of coastline, inlets, and islands, Maine is commonly referred to as The Lighthouse State. 

Located on Egg Rock, this lighthouse is one of coastal Maine's architecturally unique lighthouses and  was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Egg Rock Light Station in 1988.

Egg Rock has been known as a home for seabirds and bald eagles also are often spotted there. Today it is part of the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge and administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. No humans are allowed on the island between April 1st and August 31st, during the nesting season.

 

Photographer: Robert Thayer

US-9480883, sent by Catherine.

The lighthouse, with its 40-foot tower that flashes red every five seconds, was built in 1875 to help control the increasing summer ferry traffic in the area. After 101 years of being manned, it was automated in 1976. It is still active today and is owned and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

The 1.5 story wood keeper's house, also built in 1875, is actually an integrel part of the tower. The fog signal house, oil house, boathouse, and generator house were built later in 1904.

Ibirapuera Park - Brazil

More cards from Brazil, all from Ibirapuera Park in São, which I visited in 2016.

Ibirapuera Park is a major urban park in São Paulo, Brazil. It has a large area for leisure, jogging and walking, as well a vivid cultural scene with museums and a music hall. Its importance to São Paulo is often comparable to that of Central Park to New York City, Golden Gate Park to San Francisco, or Ueno Park to Tokyo. Ibirapuera is one of South America's largest city parks, together with Chapultepec Park, in Mexico City and Simón Bolívar Park in Bogota.

Inaugurated in 1954 for the 400th anniversary of the city, with buildings designed by famous architect Oscar Niemeyer and landscape by agronomist Otávio Agusto de Teixeira Mendes. Ibirapuera Park covers an area of almost 2 square kilometres (0.77 sq mi). It is the second largest park in the city. - in: wikipedia

BR-61696, sent by Ilona. 

Ibirapuera Parks offers several cultural attraction, such as Biennial Pavilion, Japanese Pavilion, Museum of Modern Art, Museum of Contemporary Art, Afro-Brazil Museum, etc. 

And also areas for fitness, bicycle path, 13 courts, playgrounds and three artificial lakes.

 

Monument to the Bandeiras is a large-scale granite sculpture by the Italian-Brazilian sculptor Victor Brecheret (1894-1955). It was commissioned by the government of São Paulo in 1921 and completed in 1954. It commemorates the 17th-century bandeiras, or settling expeditions into the interior of Brazil, and the bandeirantes that participated in them. - in: wikipedia

Obelisk is a symbol of the Constitutionalist Revolution of 1932, and the biggest monument of the city of São Paulo. The height of the monument is 72 meters. The construction of the monument was started in 1947 and completed in 1970.

Festa Junina Meetings - Brazil

In Brazil, June is a month of festivities and for Brazilian postcrossers this is the perfect excuse for a meeting. Even though these cards are from different years, I think it makes sense to post them together. They were sent by Luzia and Valéria.

Postcard design by freepik.com and Paloma Miranda 

Festa Junina, or the June Festival, is a Catholic tradition that was introduced to Brazil during the country’s colonization by Portugal (from 1500 to 1822). Its events are based on the European Midsummer festivities, which celebrate the harvest and the saints, mainly Saint Anthony, Saint John the Baptist, and Saint Peter. 

Postcard design and layout: Léia Guimarães. Illutrations source: Freepik

 All of Brazil celebrates this annual event. The largest festivities happen in the northeast of Brazil where the scale of celebrations is similar to Carnival.

Because this festival celebrates the harvest, events can take on a rural theme, as do the costumes, which resemble a typical countryside style and conjure images of farmers. Dancing is also an important part of the celebrations and is centered around the quadrilha, a typical Festa Junina dance accompanied by a music genre called forró. 

The food of Festa Junina is comforting and uses local ingredients—as you would expect of dishes made in the countryside. Typical foods include bolo de fubá (corn cakes made from finely ground rice or corn flour), curau (corn mixed with condensed milk and peanuts, then topped with cinnamon), cocada de colher (shredded coconut mixed with condensed milk and butter), pé-de-moleque (a type of sweet treat made with hard toffee and peanuts), and paçoca (candy made out of crushed peanuts).

 

 Design and art - Danieli Dagnoni

After Carnival, Festa Junina is the largest celebration in Brazil. As with Carnival, some cities have bigger festivities and events than others. The largest of all the celebrations happen in Campina Grande, in the state of Paraiba, and in Caruaru, in the state of Pernambuco—both in the northeast. Each region attracts millions of visitors each year and the parties there continue well into July. The state of Bahia also has large-scale celebrations, especially in Porto Seguro. - in: https://theculturetrip.com

BR-611994

Two years after beeing added to the UNESCO WHS list, I finally got a card from Sítio Roberto Burle Marx, the last site I was still missing from Brazil. I've just realized that this site was classified exactly 2 years ago, on July 27th, 2021!!

This card is an official sent by Renata. I think we never swapped cards before but she's a member of the Postcrossing forum and I've seen her in the Portuguese speaking community. 

Situated in the western region of Rio de Janeiro, the property embodies a successful project developed over more than 40 years by landscape architect and artist Roberto Burle Marx (1909-1994), a “landscape laboratory” to create “living works of art” using native plants and drawing on Modernist ideas.

Foto de @thefuturistics - flickr

BR-611994, sent by Renata.

Began in 1949, the property encompasses extensive landscapes, gardens, buildings and collections, which feature the key characteristics that came to define Burle Marx’s landscape gardens and influenced the development of modern gardens internationally. The site is characterized by sinuous forms, exuberant mass planting, architectural plant arrangements, dramatic colour contrasts, use of tropical plants, and the incorporation of elements of traditional folk culture. By the end of the 1960s, the site housed the most representative collection of Brazilian plants, alongside other rare tropical species. In the site, 3,500 cultivated species of tropical and subtropical flora grow in harmony with the native vegetation of the region, notably the Atlantic Forest biome and associated ecosystems, mangrove swamp and restinga (coastal tropical sandy plain). Sítio Roberto Burle Marx exhibits an ecological conception of form as a process, including social collaboration which is the basis for environmental and cultural preservation. It comprises the first modern tropical garden to be inscribed on the World Heritage List. - in: https://whc.unesco.org

Twyfelfontein - Namibia

Getting a new African UNESCO site is always wonderful, getting a new African UNESCO written and sent from there is even better. Twyfelfontein or /Ui-//aes is one of the two UNESCO sites in Namibia. The card was sent by Marcel.

Twyfelfontein officially known as ǀUi-ǁaes, is a site of ancient rock engravings in the Kunene Region of north-western Namibia. This site has one of the largest concentrations of [...] petroglyphs, i.e. rock engravings in Africa.

 

 © 2022 by Suaithai

Most of these well-preserved engravings represent rhinoceros, . The site also includes six painteelephant, ostrich and giraffe, as well as drawings of human and animal footprintsd rock shelters with motifs of human figures in red ochre. The objects excavated from two sections, date from the Late Stone Age. The site forms a coherent, extensive and high-quality record of ritual practices relating to hunter-gatherer communities in this part of southern Africa over at least 2,000 years, and eloquently illustrates the links between the ritual and economic practices of hunter-gatherers. - in: https://whc.unesco.org

Sanchi Stupas - India

Sanchi known for its "Stupas" is a small village in Raisen District of the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the location of several Buddhist monuments dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 12th CE and is one of the important places of Buddhist pilgrimage.
It is the oldest Buddhist sanctuary in existence and was a major Buddhist centre in India until the 12th century A.D. Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi are on the World Heritage List since 1989.

Archaeological Survey of India

 

Stupas are hemispherical structures typically containing relics of the Buddha or his followers. The Stupas of Sanchi were constructed on the orders of Emperor Ashoka to preserve and spread the Buddhist philosophy. Sanchi has been protecting these beautiful and sacred architectural wonders, just the way these wonders have been safeguarding ancient history and art of the Mauryan period.  in: https://www.mptourism.com

 

The Great Stupa at Sanchi is one of the features of Sanchi since it is believed to be the oldest Buddhist stone structure in India which was built by Mauryan Emperor Ashoka the Great in 3rd Century BCE. The present Stupa is twice the size of the original size of the stupa built in 3rd Century. The stupa in present is 16m in height and 36m in diameter for the pedestal. The nucleus of Stupa is simple hemispherical brick structure said to be built on the relics of Lord Buddha. It was said that the construction work of this Stupa was overseen by Ashoka’s wife, Queen Devi. 

Four elaborately carved toranas/ornamental gateways were built in 1st Century BCE. - in: https://www.originalbuddhas.com

RU-9627968

Feodosia, also called in English Theodosia, is a town on the Crimean coast of the Black Sea.

 

RU-9627968, sent by Sasha.

Church of the Kazan icon of the Mother of God is an Eastern Orthodox Church in a resort town of Feodosiya. Current temple was built in the early 20th century, but its history starts in 1887 when Count Nicholas Heiden gave away his private residence or dacha Kafa in Feodosiya to Toplovsky Monastery of Saint Paraskevi. In 1891 a wooden church was constructed and dedicated to Saint Panteleimon the Healer. In 1907 a new bigger stone Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God was built. It became one of the most beautiful and largest buildings in Feodosiya. Architect of the cathedral G.L. Cale designed his cathedral in the Russian- Byzantine style. it was completed and consecrated in 1911. - in: https://ermakvagus.com

Split - Croatia

Split is the second largest city in Croatia, the largest city in Dalmatia and the largest city on the Croatian coast. It is located on the east coast of the Adriatic Sea and extends over a central peninsula and its surroundings.

 

Since ancient Rome, Split has proved to be an irresistible setting for emperors, kings and master artists to build great buildings. The result is a city full of architectural treasures that sublimate us as soon as we admire the richness of this historical heritage.

Split feels like a city that time has forgotten. The ancient centre is like nothing you’ll have seen before, with a whole district taken up by a sprawling Roman palace, going strong after 1700 years. Over the centuries this architecture has been kept intact and then incorporated into newer buildings, like St. Duje’s Cathedral, the heart of which is a 4th-century mausoleum.

 

Split’s Old Town is bursting with history and culture.  Everywhere you look, you’ll find stunningly well preserved Roman and medieval architecture. it is no wonder that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Historical Complex of Split with the Palace of Diocletian has been classified in 1979.

 

The Emperor, Diocletian constructed his retirement palace in about 300AD where he resided until his death. After his death, the palace became home to the various expelled emperors and their family. Diocletian’s Palace is an example of the most magnificent Roman architecture on the Adriatic coast. It is important to mention that the palace also serves as a residential area today and is therefore open to all. 

 

The statue of Gregory of Nin by Ivan Meštrović in Split is a heavily trafficked tourist site in the town, which the toe of the statue shows. Rubbing the statue's toe is said to bring good luck. The toe has been worn smooth and shiny as a result. Currently, the statue sits to the east of the Palace and Old Town of Split, just outside the Golden Gate.

Dubrovnik - Croatia

 Long before Game of Thrones, Dubrovnik was already known as the "Pearl of the Adriatic". The squares, the narrow alleys, the red tile roofs, its imposing walls and cathedrals, the architecture, make it one of the most famous and popular destinations on the Adriatic coast.  

Raquel visited the city last month and sent me the first postcard. The others were sent by Christina, Christa and Natalia.

 

"The 'Pearl of the Adriatic', situated on the Dalmatian coast, became an important Mediterranean sea power from the 13th century onwards. Although severely damaged by an earthquake in 1667, Dubrovnik managed to preserve its beautiful Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque churches, monasteries, palaces and fountains. Damaged again in the 1990s by armed conflict, it is now the focus of a major restoration programme co-ordinated by UNESCO." - in: http://whc.unesco.org

 Dubrovnik has always been one of the most important coastal cities in the Mediterranean. It was a city-state in the Middle Ages and its fame and influence rivaled that of Venice in the heyday of the 16th and 17th centuries. Much of the fortune came from the prosperous maritime trade. 

 Those coming from the sea had to respect the two kilometers of solid 17th-century walls that surrounded an evolved, clean city of unique beauty. Despite being coveted, the Walls of Dubrovnik were never crossed by enemies, even Ottoman attacks were thwarted.

 

The old city walls of Dubrovnik are one of its best-known features, now more than ever thanks to being featured in the hit TV series, Game of Thrones. Built in the 10th century and modified in the 13th and 14th centuries, these formidable walls–as high as six meters in places, and up to six meters thick–provided a solid defense against invaders. Totaling nearly two kilometers in length, Dubrovnik's city walls make a great spot for a casual stroll and offer numerous excellent views over the Adriatic and inwards over the old city center. 

 

Another fun thing to do when visiting Dubrovnik is to head to the hills–via cable car. The Dubrovnik Cable Car whisks visitors high above the Old Town, up Srd Hill, with the views only getting better and better as you climb. - in: https://www.planetware.com

The journey lasts less than 10 minutes and you're rewarded with this view.

RU-9715320

The ID of this card may be Russian but the card is from Italy. 

Tropea is an impressive seaside town on Calabria‘s west coast, with iconic houses built into the clifftop and wide vistas over the turquoise ocean. It’s the most well-known holiday destination in Calabria, southern Italy. Famous for its charming historic centre, spectacular beaches, and prized Tropea read onion's, it’s no surprise that the town is described as the jewel in the crown of Calabria. - in: https://iitalycalabria.com

 

RU-9715320, sent by Galina.

The Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell’Isola is a beautiful small church standing on the homonymous rock, in Tropea. The church and its rock, once an island, is one of the most iconic images of the Calabrian city.
Built before the 9th century, the church belonged, at first, to the Basilian monks. In the 11th century, after the arrival of the Normans, it was passed on to the Benedictines, who still own it today.
Over the centuries, due to the violent earthquakes from 1783 and 1905, the complex has undergone various restorations and renovations, little of the original structure of the sanctuary being preserved until today.
The staircase that runs to the top was built around 1810. The current facade of the church was built after the earthquake of 1905. The last restoration took place in 2010-2011. - in: https://www.italyscapes.com

Königssee - Germany

The Königssee is Germany's third deepest lake. It is located in the state of Bavaria, near the border with Austria. Large parts are comprised by the Berchtesgaden National Park.

The lake is noted for its clear water and is advertised as the cleanest lake in Germany. For this reason, only electric driven passenger ships, rowing and pedal boats have been permitted on the lake since 1909. Due to its picturesque setting, the lake and surrounding parklands are very popular with tourists and hikers.

Foto-kunstverlag

DE-13139860, sent by Karin.

St. Bartholomew's church is named after Saint Bartholomew the Apostle, patron of alpine farmers and dairymen. The church is located at the western shore of the Königssee lake, on the Hirschau peninsula. It can only be reached by ship or after a long hike across the surrounding mountains. A first chapel at the lake was built in 1134 by the Provosts of Berchtesgaden. In 1697 it was rebuilt in a Baroque style with a floor plan modeled on Salzburg Cathedral, two onion domes and a red domed roof. - in: wikipedia

Regensburg - Germany

Regensburg was one of the places I liked the most when I visited Bavaria in 2018. The Old Town made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006 because of its well-preserved architecture, being the biggest medieval city site north of the Alps, and the city's historical importance for assemblies during the Holy Roman Empire. In 2014, Regensburg was among the top sights and travel attractions in Germany.- in: wikipedia

 

Foto: Thomas Ferber

DE-13160668, sent by Alex.

Located on the Danube River in Bavaria, this medieval town contains many buildings of exceptional quality that testify to its history as a trading centre and to its influence on the region from the 9th century.

© Fotoverlag HUBER

DE-8773710, sent by Sonja.

A notable number of historic structures span some two millennia and include ancient Roman, Romanesque and Gothic buildings. Regensburg’s 11th- to 13th-century architecture – including the market, city hall and cathedral – still defines the character of the town marked by tall buildings, dark and narrow lanes, and strong fortifications.

The buildings include medieval patrician houses and towers, a large number of churches and monastic ensembles as well as the 12th-century Old Bridge. The town is also remarkable for the vestiges testifing to its rich history as one of the centres of the Holy Roman Empire that turned to Protestantism. - in: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1155/

Card sent by Gabriela.