My Favorite Postcards

Monument of the Discoveries in Belem, outside Lisbon, commemorates the 500th anniversary of Prince Henry the Navigator pioneer of maritime discovery.

This is a medical advertising postmarked mailed in 1961 to a doctor in West Virginia, USA.

On the back of the card these words are printed:

Dear Doctor:
Here in Portugal, our special stamp commemorates the life, 5 centuries ago, of Prince Henry the Navigator.  Today PENTOTHAL too has charted new worlds of progress.  You'll like its dependable, easily controlled intravenous anesthesia.  Use it soon.
Abbott

Algarve
Cacela  Velha (the name of the village)
Portugal

The sender writes that this is where everyone goes in the summer and that it has many tourists from all over Europe.

The first picture is the Cacela Velha Fortress.

This is postmarked in 2009 with a Portugal stamp.

Portugal
Braga
Santuario do Sameiro
Sameiro Sanctuary
Sanctuaire de Sameiro

This is postmarked in 2013 with a Portugal Christmas stamp featuring the Magi worshiping Jesus as a baby.

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Construction begun on 14 July 1863.

The founder of the shrine was the Vicar of Braga, Padre Antonio Martinho Pereira da Silva.

Acores (Azores)

Arquipelago dos Acores
Archipelago of the Azores

This map postcard is postmarked in 2014 from Portugal.

Shown are:
Flores, Corvo, Sao Jorge, Graciosa, Terceira, Faial, Pico, Sao Miguel,  and Santa Maria

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The Azores is one of the two autonomous regions of Portugal, composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Mount Pico, on the island of Pico, is the highest point in Portugal, at 2,351 m (7,713 ft).

Portugal
Viseu - Se Catedral
(Viseu Cathedral)

This postcard is of Portugal, but was mailed from Brazil in 2015.

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Viseu Cathedral is in the city of Viseu, Portugal. The building of the church started in the 12th century with many building campaigns taking place in the 16th century.

Figueira Da Foz
Vista panoramica (panoramic view)
Portugal

This postcard is postmarked in 2009 with a Portugal Transportation stamp.

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According to the legend the place’s name is due to a fig tree, which stood at the quay of Salmanha, where the fishermen used to tie up their boats. The historian Nelson Borges said, however, that Figueira comes from the word "fagaria", which means "opening, huge mouth". Foz comes from the Latin word "fouces" = "mouth of a river", and Mondego comes from the pre-romanic expressions "mond" = "mouth" and "aec"= "river". That means, Figueira da Foz would be "the river’s mouth opening".

Guarda
1. Cidade da Guarga / 2.Rua da Guarda
3. Judiaria - Parte velha da Cidade / 4. Se da Guarda

1. Guarda - The City / 2. Guarda Street
3. Jewish Quarter - Old City / 4. Guarda Cathedral

Foto: Marialva

postmarked in 2012 with a Portuguese Cheese stamp for 0,80

the sender writes:  Picture #3 is the shop where this postcard was bought.

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Guarda was founded in 1199 by the second king of Portugal, Sancho I and is the highest city in Portugal.

Madeira
Santana

Casas tipicas
Typical houses
Maisons typiques
Typische Hauser

postmarked in 2013

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Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies just under 400 kilometres (250 mi) north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean.  It was discovered by Portuguese sailors in 1419.  Today, it is a popular year-round resort.

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Santana (a municipality of Madeira) is known for the traditional homes constructed with sloping triangular rooftops, and protected with straw. These were mainly rural homes, used by local farmers, during the settlement of the island, with white-paintd walls, red doors and windows with blue trim. Most of the surviving buildings are tourist attractions, and maintained (for example, the straw roofs are replace every four to five years).

 Aveiro
"Moliceiros"

postmarked in 2012 with a Portugal 'Circo Chapito' (circus clown or circus person) stamp for 0,80

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Aveiro is a city in Aveiro Municipality in Portugal, it is nicknamed "The Portuguese Venice", due to its system of canals and boats similar to the Italian city of Venice.

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Moliceiro is the name given to boats that you see in the Aveiro River. They were originally used for harvesting seaweed to be used as fertilizer for the farms in Aveiro, but now they are used more for tourists .

The boats have a low edge which made it easy for loading the seaweed. They also have a bow and a stern that are usually brightly decorated with paintings that show everyday situations.

The Legend of the Almond Trees in Flower

Many years ago, when the Moors dominated Algarve, there was a king who fell in love with a beautiful Nordic princess.  In exchange for sailing in Al Gharb sea waters, teh Moorish king asked the princess in marriage.  The Nordic king wasn't very pleased with this request but he was forced to agree and so his daughter became the Queen of Al Gharb.

The Moorish king loved his wife very much and the court was kind to her but, even so, the princess felt very unhappy.

The king talked to the wise men from his kingdom and asked their advice.  He organised sumptuous dinners and parties in her honour but the princess felt more and more melancholic.  One day, her lady in waiting said to the king "My Lord, whatever you may do, you never satisfy her, because she misses the whiteness of the snow of her country".

The king rode on horseback through the fields, thinking about those words. Suddenly he noticed a tree covered with beautiful white flowers ... "That's it!" - he exclaimed - "I'm going to give my wife a landscape that reminds her the snow of her country...".

Thus, the king ordered his servants to plant many trees like that as far as their eyes could reach.  And so it was done.  After some time on a beautiful day of February, the princess opened the window and was surprised by the view.  In front of her eyes stretched out a white and exuberant landscape similar to the one of her country.  She ran to her husband, embraced him and thanked him the "snow".  In fact, the almond trees in flower looked like snow.

From that day on, the sadness disappeared from the face of the beautiful Queen of Al Gharb.

Algarve, Portugal

unused, from 2012

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The Al-Gharb was the name given by the Moors of Iberia to the modern region of Algarve (in mainland Portugal), and by extension, to most of Portugal, during their rule of the territory, from 711 to 1249.

A Genuine Symbol of Portugal

This is postmarked in 2012 with a Queijos Portuguese stamp (Portugese Cheeses).

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Here is a great story about how the rooster became the national symbol of Portugal!...


The Rooster has long been the symbol of Portugal, as the eagle is for the United States of America. A delightful moral tale is traditionally credited with the selection of the rooster.

The story is set in the era of the early regional kings of Portugal. It tells of a humble villager who is accused of theft and sentenced to death.

The man loudly proclaimed his innocence and demanded to be set free. His jailors paid him no mind and laughed at his cries for freedom. As his execution day neared, however, hi constant insistence on his innocence impressed one of the jailors who promised to speak to the king on his behalf.

The jailor had no opportunity to approach the king until the day of the execution. The jailor carried the condemned man’s plea to the king during a large banquet. In good humor due to the festive occasion, the king granted his request for the audience and the villager was brought before him.

“So you are innocent, are you?” laughed the king.
“Yes Sir, I am. Before God, I swear it,” answered the villager.
“Ah, but you have been accused and sentenced to death, and I can’t change the sentence on just your word without proof. How do you think you can prove your innocence, my good man?”
“But Sir, I swear that I am innocent,” the man insisted. He looked around the banquet room in desperation, seeking some way, some help. His eyes fell on a servant carrying in a large platter of fowl, steaming with seasonings. He fell to his knees.

“Lord God,” he prayed, “as Peter, your servant, denied you at the cock’s crow, would that you show my innocence as your humble servant by this rooster’s crow…”

All eyes turned to the platter of steaming cooked fowl and widened in wonder and amazement as the rooster got up, ruffled his feathers and crowed loudly.

“The Lord has indeed spoken,” the king said softly, and raising his voice, he proclaimed, “Let this be a lesson to each of us never to sit in quick judgment of our fellow man. The rooster, henceforth, shall be a reminder to us and to our children after us, of this, the Lord’s message. So shall it be in our land forever!”

The rooster, gaily decorated with bright designs, remains Portugal’s symbol and can be seen in almost every home and on every festive occasion, shaped in loaves of holiday bread and stamped on children’s candies. It has come to be considered by the Portuguese as a symbol of faith in the greatness of God.
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Here is another postcard of the Rooster, only this one is made of cork!!
 The Old Legend of Barcelos Cock

This one is postmarked in 2012 with a Portugal, Bordados Tradicionais (Traditional Embroidery) 0,80 (lace) stamp.
 

Coimbra, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra
University of Coimbra

from a Postcrossing meet-up and signed by 10 members
postmarked in 2011 with a Portugal 'ship' stamp

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The University of Coimbra is a Portuguese public university in Coimbra, Portugal. Established in 1290, it is one of the oldest universities in continuous operation in the world, the oldest university of Portugal, and one of its largest higher education and research institutions.

The University of Coimbra has approximately 20,000 students.
(The above postcard is a view of the old courtyard.)

Ano Internacional Das Florestas 2011
(International Year of Forests 2011)

This postcard is made of cork!  The back is solid and is where the sender wrote the message.

postmarked in 2011 with the pre-paid stamp you see that was printed on the card.  The stamp reads: Floresta para Todos (The Forest is for Everyone)

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Cork is a material that will not let liquid pass through it.  Most cork tissue that is harvested for commercial use comes from the Cork Oak Tree, which is found in southwest Europe and northwest Africa.  It is used in a variety of products, the most common of which is for wine stoppers. Portugal produces approximately 50% of cork harvested annually worldwide.

Nazare
Varios pormenores (Several details)
- Portugal -

unused, from 2011

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Nazaré has become a popular tourist attraction, advertising itself as a picturesque seaside village. Located on the Atlantic coast, it has long sandy beaches (considered by some to be among the best beaches of Portugal). The town used to be known for its traditional costumes worn by the fishermen and their wives who worn the traditional headscarf and embroidered aprons over seven flannel skirts in different colours. These dresses can still occasionally be seen.

Sintra, Portugal
Palacio Nacional Da Pena (Pena National Palace)

unused, from 2011

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Sintra is a town in Sintra Municipality in Portugal, located in the Grande Lisboa subregion and the Lisbon Region. The town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on account of its 19th century Romantic architecture. It has a population of c. 33,000 inhabitants.

The National Palace:
It's history started in the Middle Ages when a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Pena was built on the top of the hill above Sintra. According to tradition, the construction occurred after an apparition of the Virgin Mary.

In 1493, King John II, accompanied by his wife Queen Leonor, made a pilgrimage to the site. His successor, King Manuel I, was also very fond of this sanctuary, and ordered the construction there of a monastery which was donated to the Order of Saint Jerome. For centuries Pena was a small, quiet place for meditation, housing a maximum of eighteen monks.

In the 18th century the monastery was severely damaged by lightning. However, it was the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755, occurring shortly afterwards, that took the heaviest toll on the monastery, reducing it to ruins. Nonetheless, the chapel and its magnificent works of marble and alabaster escaped without significant damage.

For many decades the ruins remained untouched, but they still astonished young prince Ferdinand. In 1838, as King consort Ferdinand II, he decided to acquire the old monastery, all of the surrounding lands, the nearby Castle of the Moors and a few other estates in the area. King Ferdinand then set out to transform the remains of the monastery into a palace that would serve as a summer residence for the Portuguese royal family.The construction took place between 1842–1854.

After the death of Ferdinand the palace passed into the possession of his second wife Elisa Hensler, Countess of Edla. The latter then sold the palace to King Luís, who wanted to retrieve it for the royal family, and thereafter the palace was frequently used by the family. In 1889 it was purchased by the Portuguese State, and after the Republican Revolution of 1910 it was classified as a national monument and transformed into a museum.

The palace quickly drew visitors and became one of Portugal's most visited monuments. Over time the colors of the red and yellow façades faded, and for many years the palace was visually identified as being entirely gray. By the end of the 20th century the palace was repainted and the original colors restored, much to the dismay of many Portuguese who were not aware that the palace had once displayed such chromatic variety.
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Two more cards ....

fotos: Nuno Antunes

postmarked in 2012 with a Portugal '0,80 Eunice Munoz' stamp
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Porta das Colunas
Gate of the Twisted Columns

Foto: Luis Pavao

unused, from 2012
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Portugal - Stamp 2011
Eunice Munoz 0,80

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Eunice Muñoz, (born July 30, 1928) is a Portuguese actress who was born in Amareleja, Portugal. She studied at the Portuguese National Conservatory.