22/06/2017

First card sent to Greece!

The first postcard to Greece is in the mail! Postcard 56 shows one of the most magnificent features of Ourense's Cathedral, the Pórtico do Paraíso (Door of Paradise).


 An ESO 3 student, Gema da Rocha, has written and send the card to Athens, the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy.





Click EXPLORING PLACES if you want to learn about Greece's capital city. To read more about The Door of the Paradise, go to DISCOVER OURENSE.

Cheers, Gema!

Discover Ourense XXXIX: The Door of Paradise

Postcard 56 shows one of the chief artworks in Ourense's Cathedral, the Door of Paradise (Pórtico do Paraíso). 


This 13th-century pórtico was built by students of Master Mateo, best known for his Pórtico da Gloria in the Cathedral of Santiago de CompostelaIts three arches are supported by columns with a central mullion. The apostle St James holds a sword reminiscent of his alleged miraculous participation in the legendary Battle of Clavijo.



Other decorations include Christ being tempted by the devil, a medallion of God the Father and a tabernacle presenting St Martin tearing his cloak. 


The archivolts of the central arch bear the figures of the 24 elders from the Book of Revelation. The columns themselves are sculpted with apostles and prophets while the capitals present a variety of figures including Christ's temptations in the desert, centaurs fighting mermaids, dragons and harpies with frightening faces who were said to have brought the plague.



Exploring Places LXXX: Athens, Greece

 Postcard 56 has been sent to Athens!

View of Athens

WHERE IS ATHENS?

Athens  is the capital and largest city of Greece. It dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, with its recorded history spanning over 3,400 years, and its earliest human presence starting somewhere between the 11th and 7th millennia BC.

Location of Athens

The ancient city-state of Athens derived its name from the Greek goddess of wisdom, Athena, who the people considered the patron of the city.

Athena

ATHENS IS FAMOUR FOR…
...being the hometown of classical philosophers like Socatres, Plato, and Aristotle.

Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
...the Acropolis and its art and architecture

Acropolis
...for being home to the original Olympic Games

Amphora with a representation of long jumping

PLACES TO VISIT

Parthenon

The Parthenon in Athens

More than any other monument, the Parthenon epitomises the glory of Ancient Greece. Meaning ‘virgin’s apartment’, it's dedicated to Athena Parthenos, the goddess embodying the power and prestige of the city.

Erechtheion

Erechteion

The Erechtheion was built on the part of the Acropolis held most sacred. It was here that Poseidon struck the ground with his trident and where Athena produced the olive tree. Named after Erechtheus, a mythical king of Athens, the temple housed the cults of Athena, Poseidon and Erechtheus. Six larger-than-life maiden columns, the Caryatids, support its southern portico.

Temple of Poseidon


It was built in 444 BC – at the same time as the Parthenon – it is constructed of local marble from Agrilesa; its slender columns, of which 16 remain, are Doric.
It is thought that the temple was built by Iktinos, the architect of the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens’ Ancient Agora.

Parliament & Changing of the Guard

Changing of the Guard in Athens

In front of the parliament building on PlateiaSyntagmatos, the traditionally costumed evzones (guards) of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier change every hour on the hour. On Sunday at 11am, a whole platoon marches down VasilissisSofias to the tomb, accompanied by a band.

Syntagma Square

Syntagma Square

It is the central square of Athens. The Square is named after the Constitution that the first King of Greece Otto was obliged to grant, after a popular and military uprising on 3 September 1843.It is located in front of the 19th century Old Royal Palace, housing the Greek Parliament since 1934. Syntagma Square is the most important square of modern Athens from both a historical and social point of view, at the epicentre of commercial activity and Greek politics.

National Gardens

National Gardens

A delightful, shady refuge during summer, the National Gardens were formerly the royal gardens, designed by Queen Amalia. There’s a large children’s playground, a duck pond and a shady cafe.

To find out more about Athens and Greece don’t miss the video below!


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14/06/2017

A wonderful postcard to a wonderful place, Saint Petersburg!

Hi there!
Postcard 55 features a wonderful digital illustration by an artist we all admire, Rafael Cachaldora. As you may remember, last year we sent 5 postcards by Cachaldora which represented various places of Ourense's old town. This time, however, the spot represented is not located in Ourense; card 55 constitutes a vibrant and captivating representation of the well-known cathedral of Santiago de Compostela from Obradoiro Square (Square of the Stonecutters).


 Santiago's Cathedral is the final destination of the Camiño de Santiago and the centre point for the celebration of the Feast of Saint James on July, 25th. ESO 2 students have written the postcard in Spanish upon its recipent's request and sent it to one of the most amazing cities in the world, Saint Petersburg, the origin of the 18th postcard received in this project. 





Click here to read about Russia's cultural capital.

To find out more about Santiago de Compostela and its breathtaking cathedral, visit the blog of our postcrossing friends in Santiago.


13/06/2017

Festive card from Munich, Germany!

Hooray! We have received a festive card from Munich, the capital of Bavaria in Germany, 1,625 km away!


Danke schön Charlotte for this card showing one of the best known festivals in Germany, the Oktoberfest, the world's largest beer festival held annually from late September to the first weekend in October. 



More than 6 million people from all over the world attend the festival every year and enjoy numerous attractions, such as amusement rides, games and a wide variety of German dishes like Schweinebraten (roast pork), Schweinshaxe (grilled ham hock), Brezen (pretzels) or Knödel (potato or bread dumplings).




Click EXPLORING PLACES to find out more about Munich.


Exploring Places LXXIX: Munich Germany

We've got mail! A card from Munich has arrived!


Munich. Fabulsit travel

WHERE IS MUNICH?
Munich is the capital and largest city of the German state of Bavaria, on the banks of River Isar north of the Bavarian Alps.

Location of Munich 

Munich is the third largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Hamburg, and the 12th biggest city of the European Union, with a population of around 1.5 million.


MUNICH IS FAMOUS FOR...
…hosting the 1972 Summer Olympics, where the Munich Massacre took place.

Munchen Olympics logo

…  being a leading location for science and research with a long list of Nobel Prize laureates from Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen in 1901 to Theodor Hänsch in 2005.

Röntgen. Wikipedia
Hänsch. Wikipedia

…the Oktoberfest, which attracts millions of people visiting its beer tents ("Bierzelte") and fairground attractions. The Oktoberfest was first held on 12 October 1810 in honour of the marriage of crown prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The festivities were closed with a horse race and in the following years the horse races were continued and later developed into what is now known as the Oktoberfest.

Oktoberfest

PLACES TO VISIT

New town hall (NeuesRathaus)

Rathaus Munchen. 

The NeueRathaus (New Town Hall) is a magnificent neo-gothic building from the turn of the century which architecturally dominates the north side of Munich’s Marienplatz.

Hall of fame and Bavaria

Hall of Fame

On a hill at the west end of the Theresienwiese sits the 18-meter-high (36 feet) bronze statue of Bavaria. In the head of the female symbol and earthly patron of Bavaria is an observation deck with two benches.

Viktualienmarkt

Viktualienmarkt

When the food market of the city had grown too large for the central square Marienplatz, King Maximilian I issued a decree in 1807 to have it moved a few metres to the south-east, to the square between Heiliggeist-Kirche and Frauenstraße. Charity buildings that had once belonged to the church were demolished to make way for the market square or "Markplatz", which only much later came to be known as "Viktualienmarkt" or victuals market.

Olympic Park

Olympic Park Munich

Site of the 1972 Olympics, this landscaped park contains sport facilities, lakes, bicycle paths, concert venues, restaurants and a football stadium, as well as its landmark "tent-style" roofs.

Church of St. Peter (Alter Peter)

Munich Alter Peter

"The Kirche St. Peter (“Church of St. Peter”) is one of Munich’s landmarks, the oldest parish church in the city, and is known affectionately by the locals as Alter Peter (“Old Peter”). The church stands on a hill called Petersbergl, which is the only noteworthy elevation within the Munich’s historic Old Town.

Nymphenburg Palace

Nympherburg Palace

The baroque palace in the west part of Munich was the summer residence of the Bavarian monarchs. Five generations of Wittelsbach rulers were involved in the construction of this stately ensemble, which houses several outstanding collections. With its lavishly decorated interior and the famous "Gallery of Beauties" commissioned by Ludwig I, the palace is one of Munich's favorite attractions. Among the highlights are the former bedroom of King Ludwig II and the impressive banquet hall with fine ceiling frescoes by Johann Baptist Zimmermann.

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