Viseu's Misericórdia Church - Portugal

Both these cards depict Misericórdia Church in Viseu. The 1st card was sent by Miguel to wish me an happy birthday and the 2nd by Vitória.

www.edigpostal.com

Crowning the Cathedral square - Adro da Sé – is an impressive looking church, Igreja da Misericórdia. It was built in the 16th century by the supervision of Jorge de Ataíde, bishop of Viseu, and was renovated in the 18th century in majestic baroque style which remains to this day.

Inside the church is a splendid 18th century pipe organ and an oil painting of Our Lady Misericórdia (Mercy) by “Pintor Gata”, the 19th century Viseu artist. The Misericórdia museum is also in the same building and has a collection of over 100 objects relating to the centuries of history of one of Portugal’s oldest charity organizations and the people who have made it as it is. - in: https://visitviseu.pt

Mourão Castle - Portugal

 I've already been to Mourão but this visit lasted only a few minutes. The idea was to visit the castle, but the minute I got my feet out of the car, it started to rain in such a way that it only gave me time to take a picture, not a good one though. At least now I have these pretty postcards from there. These are two more postcards from that set of hundreds of postcards that Paulo sent me 2 months ago.

Foto: Cristina Duarte

Mourão Castle was built in early 1343, in the reign of D. Afonso IV. Built at the highest point in the village of Mourão, it consists of masonry in the region's schist, marble and granite. The medieval wall is composed by several doors.

Foto: Cristina Duarte

It has a triangular plan with square towers. Within the walls, the House of the Guarda and the old Town Halls stand out. The military complex preserves, although very damaged, a very unique and picturesque aspect.

Arrábida Natural Park - Portugal

Rui and Carla also sent me a non Christmas card to wish me happy holidays. I believe the picture on the card was taken by Rui. 

Arrábida Natural Park was created in 1976 and covers the municipalities of Palmela, Setúbal and Sesimbra.

One of the places of interest in the park is Serra do Risco, which is the highest point on the Portuguese continental coast, reaching an altitude of 380 meters in the place called “Píncaro”, being the highest limestone coastal escarpment in Europe.

Sintra - Portugal

Sintra is a very popular day trip when visiting Lisbon but there are plenty of attractions in the town to easily keeps the visitors busy for 2 or 3 days. I've been there a couple of times, always day trips, and I still have a lot to see. 

This beautiful card was sent by Rita to wish me happy holidays.

In 1995, Sintra gained the UNESCO Cultural Landscape classification. The town and the northern slope of the Serra de Sintra with its wonderful natural characteristics and impressive historic landmarks were thus accepted as worthy of world heritage status. in: https://www.visitportugal.com

papyrus - edição de postais

Sintra's Cultural Landscape is an exceptional mixture of natural and cultural sites within a distinct framework. Seen from a distance, it gives the impression of an essentially natural landscape that is distinct from its surroundings: a small chain of forested granite mountains rising over the hilly rural landscape. When seen from closer at hand, the Serra reveals a surprisingly rich cultural evidence spanning over several centuries of Portugal's history. - in: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/723/

Christmas Meetings

Every year the portuguese postcrossing community tries to have a big Christmas meeting but thanks to this awful pandemic, that wasn't possible in 2020. However, a few postcrossers couldn't resist and organized smaller meetings. 

Card sent by Paula and also digned by João, Lina, Xana and Fernanda, who met in the beginning of December.

A few days later Zé attended another meeting in Lisbon area. Luís, Raquel, RFS and someone else whose signature I don't recognize, we also there. 

Gracinha didn't attend any of these meetings but also sent me a card. 

The situation is pretty dramatic now in Portugal but I hope things start to get better and maybe in a few months we can start planning "normal" meetings. Fingers crossed. 

PT RR - Group 155 * Surprise October '20

 I'm done with MFS RR postcards but I still had these cards from October surprise group of the portuguese RR. This was the last surprise group of this RR. The host changed twice and not many people is interrested in joining the open groups. 

In October I've received postcards from Patrícia, Rui and Óscar.

Photo by Milan

Long-eared Owls are lanky owls that often seem to wear a surprised expression thanks to long ear tufts that typically point straight up like exclamation marks. These nocturnal hunters roost in dense foliage, where their camouflage makes them hard to find, and forage over grasslands for small mammals. Long-eared Owls are nimble flyers, with hearing so acute they can snatch prey in complete darkness. In spring and summer, listen for their low, breathy hoots and strange barking calls in the night. - in: https://www.allaboutbirds.org

I've been to Tomar a couple of times but never visited this aqueduct.

 The imposing Pegões Aqueduct was built with the aim of providing water to the Convent of Christ. Its building began in 1593, during the reign of King Filipe I of Portugal, and was finished in 1614. 

This national monument has close to 6 km of length and is formed by 58 round arches at the highest part, which was built over 16 gothic arches supported by pillars. It reaches 30 metres high. 

Enjoy a unique experience by walking at the top of the aqueduct on the platform that accompanies the water gutter. - in: https://turismo.mediotejo.pt

Classified as a National Monument since 1910, the Palace of Giela is a remarkable example of medieval and modern private civic architecture. Its origin, such as the old Castle of Santa Cruz, is profoundly linked to the origin and formation of Valdevez land. When the castle ceased to operate as a strategic point, the building of the "tower-house" of Giela marks a new era for the protection and stately and regal dominion over the area.

The medieval tower and the residential building with “Manueline” windows and a fort entrance is currently visible.

The tower was probably built in mid-14th century. Towards the end of the 15th century and beginning of the 16th, the residence area is built, being completed by 1573. In 1662 the Portuguese artillery causes serious damage to the building by the dismissal of the Spanish General Pantoja. During the 17th and 18th centuries several changes were made to the residential structure, starting from the 19th century a period of decline and abandonment. In 1999 the property is acquired by the local town municipality. - in: http://www.portoenorte.pt

World Postcard Day

October 1st is now World Postal Day and of course, this is not a date that postcrossers miss out on. I've got this cards from meetings and friends to commemorate the date.

Concept  by postcardbazaar © 2020

 This first postcard was sent by Maria do Céu. In addition to the postcard, made for World Postcard Day, the postmark was especially created to celebrate this day.

Designed by Valéria Formigoni * Postcrossing logo is a registered trademark

When is not possible to meet in person, lets do it virtually. That's what some brazilian postcrossers did to clelebrate this date. 

Another great card designed and sent by Valéria.

From Canada and sent by Marie, of course, this postcard came from yet another meeting in Toronto.

 DE-9658760, sent by Erika.
This is an official postcard and is also a postcard from a meeting in Bielefeld.

 

© Portugal Souvenir

Like Maria do Céu, Patrícia also wanted to send a postcard to commemorate the day of the postcard. Despite having sent it to my old address, the postcard was not lost, on the contrary, it was very well kept by my former neighbor.