27th October 2022: World Postcard Day, Portugal

Portugal: World Postcard Day

On 13th November I got two postcards: one from Portugal and one from Sweden.

The card from Portugal is the official postcard for the second World Postcard Day on 1st October 2021. It was designed by Shao-hua Wu from Taiwan based on the theme "Across the World on a Postcard". Officially revealed on 14th August, the design was made available to everybody to be printed on cards. 

Like last year there was an official World Postcard Day postmark available in Portugal's capital Lisbon, which was used on this card. The stamp was originally issued in a set of two in 2015 to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Tower of Belem, used here however is a self-adhesive version issued in a set of five about scenes from the southern part of the country on 23rd September 2016.

Thank You very much Veerle!

Portugal: Trams of Lisbon

On 6th July I got two postcards: one from Portugal and one from Germany. 

The card from Portugal shows the Trams of Lisbon. The Trams were put in operation in 1873 and nowadays there are six different lines. 

The stamp on the right celebrates the Birth Centenary of Amália Rodrigues (issued 24-07-2020), Portugal's most famous and popular Fado singer. 

Thank You very much Joana!

Portugal: World Postcard Day

On 15th October I got a postcard from Portugal. 

To celebrate the first World Postcard Day Postcrossing hold a competition for an official postcard. This design by Daniel Estevão finished as the third place winner.

The card was sent on World Postcard Day with the matching special postmark from Lisbon. A nice related stamp was used as well. It is this year's EUROPA stamp of the Azores (issued 25-05-2020) and shows some old postcards. Like every year Portuguese EUROPA stamps are issued for the Azores, Madeira and mainland Portugal, however all these can be used in all three regions.

 Thank You very much Tiago!

Portugal: Sagres

Last Saturday I got three postcards: one from Portugal, one from Kyrgyzstan and one from the Czech Republic.

The card from Portugal shows the Chapel of Our Lady of Grace and the Monument to the Discoveries at the Fortress of Sagres. Sagres was a strategically important place over centuries. In the 15th century Prince Henry the Navigator founded the fortress and a nautical school there. As his headquarters for projects of maritime expansion it was an important location of the early Portuguese Age of Discovery. In 2015 the Sagres Promontory got the European Heritage Label.

With a nice stamp:
EUROPA (issued 09-05-2019)
The Portuguese EUROPA stamps are always issued for mainland Portugal, the Azores and Madeira. This is the one for the Azores. The stamp takes part in the Europa Stamps Bird Project, so it can be scanned to listen to the bird. You can see the stamps for mainland Portugal and Madeira here.

Thank You very much Tiago!

Portugal: Côa Valley

Last Saturday I got three postcards: one from Portugal, one from Sweden and one from Italy.

The card from Portugal shows a prehistoric rock engraving in the Côa Valley. The prehistoric rock engravings in the Côa Valley were discovered in the 1990s. Hundreds of panels with thousands of animal figures were carved over several millenia representing the most remarkable open-air ensemble of Paleolithic art of the Iberian Peninsula. Since 1998 are the Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In 2010 the rock art in Siega Verde in Spain was added to the site.

With a nice stamp:
Cultural Personalities (from set of three) (issued 12-07-2019)

Thank You very much Marta!

Portugal: Estremoz Clay Figure

Last Wednesday I got a postcard from Portugal.

It shows an Estremoz Clay Figure. Estremoz Clay Figures are made for more than 300 years ago. First there were only figures of saints and about the nativity, but nowadays there are figures about many aspects of the daily life of the people in Portugal's Alentejo region. The Craftmanship of Estremoz Clay Figures is since 2017 an Intangible Heritage of the UNESCO.

With a matching stamp:
UNESCO Intangible Heritage (from set of three) (issued 31-08-2018)

Thank You very much Rui!

Portugal: Porto

Last Monday I got two postcards from Portugal.

One of them shows Porto. Porto, which is also known as Oporto, is the second largest city of Portugal and an important economic and cultural centre. The Historic Centre of Oporto is since 1996 together with the Luiz I Bridge and the Monastery of Serra do Pilar on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamp:
World War I Armistice (issued 10-08-2018)

Thank You very much Rita!

Portugal: Lisbon and Fado

Last Monday I got two postcards from Portugal.

One of them shows various views of Lisbon including a Fado singer. Fado is a Portuguese music genre that is mainly practised in Coimbra and Lisbon. It is characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics about unhappy love, the life of the poor and the longing for better times. Since 2011 is Fado an Intangible Heritage of the UNESCO.

With a nice stamp:
90 years Mickey Mouse (from set of two) (issued 14-09-2018)

Thank You very much Rita!

Portugal: Roman Temple of Évora

Last Monday I got three postcards: two from Portugal and one from Russia.

One of the cards from Portugal shows the Roman Temple of Évora. The Roman Temple of Évora was probably built in the 1st century and is today the most famous Roman monument in Portugal. As part of the Historic Centre of Évora is the temple since 1986 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamp:
EUROPA (from set of two) (issued 09-05-2018)

Thank You very much Rita!

Portugal: Alto Douro Wine Region

Last Monday I got three postcards: two from Portugal and one from Russia.

One of the cards from Portugal shows the Alto Douro Wine Region. The Alto Douro Wine Region is since the 18th century especially known for its port wine, but wine is already produced in the region for over 2000 years. Since 2001 is the Alto Douro Wine Region on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamp:
250th anniversary of the Botanic Garden of Ajuda (from set of four) (issued 07-05-2018)

Thank You very much Rita!

Portugal: Lisbon with Special Postcrossing Postmark

On Friday I got a great postcards from Portugal.

It shows an aerial view of Lisbon. Lisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal. It is also one of the oldest cities in the World and continental Europe's westernmost capital city. Last week Lisbon hosted the Eurovision Song Contest.

The card was signed during the Postcrossing Meet-up in Lisbon.
Stamp:
Centenary of the Battle of the Lys (issued 09-04-2018)
with a special Postcrossing postmark
The Battle of the Lys, which is known as Vierte Flandernschlacht (Fourth Battle of Flanders) in German, was a part of the 1918 German offensive in Flanders. It was fought between the 7th and 29th April. In the battle the German Empire tried to capture Ypres, but that failed and the battle ended with an Entente victory. 

Thank You very much Paula!

Portugal: Pena Palace in Sintra

On Friday I got four postcards: one from Portugal, one from Thailand, one from Estonia and one from Germany.

The card from Portugal shows the Pena Palace in Sintra. Sintra became the first centre of European Romantic architecture in the 19th century. The Pena Palace was constructed on the remains of a ruined monastery and served as a summer residence for the Portuguese royal family. Today it houses a museum. The Cultural Landscape of Sintra is since 1995 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamp:
Lisbon (from set of four) (issued 26-08-2016)

Thank You very much Madalena!

Portugal: Guimarães

Yesterday I got two postcards: one from Portugal and one from Germany.

The card from Portugal shows various views of Guimarães. Guimarães is a city in northern Portugal. It is said to be the birthplace of the first Portuguese king and is thus known as birthplace of the Portuguese nationality. It was also the first capital of Portugal. Guimarães is an exceptionally well-preserved and authentic example of the evolution of a medieval settlement into a modern town. Since 2001 is the Historic Centre of Guimarães on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In 2012 it was the European Capital of Culture.

Stamp:
Extreme Sports (from set of three) (issued 12-02-2015)

Thank You very much Inês!

Portugal: Azulejos

Yesterday I got six postcards: one from Portugal, one from Germany, one from Norway, one from Mexico, my first card from Kazakhstan and one from Finland.

The card from Portugal shows a house in Lisbon decorated with Azulejos. Azulejos are painted tin-glazed ceramic tileworks. They are an important aspect of Portuguese architecture.

Stamp:
Extreme Sports (from set of five) (issued 31-03-2016)

Thank You very much July!

Hello July,
I got your nice card, but unfortunately do not know how to contact you. So if you read this please post a comment or send me an e-mail. ^__^

Portugal: University of Coimbra

On Monday I got five postcards: one from Portugal, one from Brazil, one from the Philippines, one from Japan and one from Belarus.

The card from Portugal shows the University of Coimbra. The University of Coimbra is the oldest university of Portugal and one of the oldest in Europe. Since 2013 is the University of Coimbra on the UNESCO World Heritage List and in 2014 the General Library of the University of Coimbra got the European Heritage Label. 

Stamp:
Azores (from set of five) (issued 23-10-2015)

Thank You very much Marta!

Portugal: Tower of Belém

Today I got five postcards: one from Portugal, one from South Korea, one from Japan, one from Germany and one from France.

The card from Portugal shows the Tower of Belém in Lisbon. The Tower of Belém was built between 1515 and 1521 in the Portuguese Manueline style. It was built as reminder of the great maritime discoveries that laid the foundations of the modern world. Until the 19th century it was used as jail. Since 1983 is the Tower of Belém together with the Monastery of the Hieronymites on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamp:
Extreme Sports (from set of three) (issued 27-06-2014)

Thank You very much Keiko!

Portugal: Elvas

Today I got six postcards: one from Portugal, one from Greece, one from Russia, one from Hong Kong, one from Japan and one from Germany.

The card from Portugal shows Elvas from above. Elvas was fortified from the 17th to 19th centuries and has today the largest bulwarked dry-ditch system in the world. Since 2012 is the Garrison Border Town of Elvas with its Fortifications an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

With matching stamp:
UNESCO World Heritage Site Elvas-Forte de Santa Luzia (from set of four) (issued 30-06-2014)

Thank You very much Jose!

Portugal: Praça Marquês de Pombal in Lisbon

Today I got two postcards: my first card from Portugal and one from New Zealand.

Portugal is country in Southern Europe bordering on Spain. Portugal is a member of the EU, of the NATO, of the OECD and of the UN.

The card shows the Praça Marquês de Pombal in Portugal's capital Lisbon. The Praça Marquês de Pombal was built at the end of the Avenida de Liberdade. On the square is a 36m tall statue of Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo. In 1910 the important events of the proclamation of the first Portuguese Republic took place on the square.

The card was sent from the Postcrossing Meet-up in Lisbon.
Stamp:
EUROPA (from set of two) (issued 09-05-2014)

Thank You very much Sabrina!