Posted on 13.11.2011, and 15.06.2014
Built by the Romans on a series of terraces on Monte Subasio, Assisi stood out only along with the foundation of the Franciscan religious order by Saint Francis of Assisi (born Giovanni Francesco di Bernardone) and of the Poor Clares order also by him, but together with his disciple, Saint Claire of Assisi (born Chiara Offreduccio), both at the beginning of 13th century. Saint Francis is one of the most venerated religious figures in history and shares honors with St. Catherine of Siena as the patron saint of Italy (from 1939).
Orthodox as religion and grew up under the Ceauşescu regime, I found out about St. Francis only late, after the age of 30, when I got in my hand an excellent written and structured volume, Gospel Living: Saint Francis of Assisi Yesterday and Today, that I strongly recommend you. The book has three parts, each with a different author: Francis of Assisi: Life - Life Program - Experiences (by the Capuchin Anton Rotzetter), Franciscan spirit over the centuries (by the Capuchin Eillibrord-Christian Van Dijk) and Francis of Assisi and his followers today (by the Franciscan Thaddee Matura). The book impressed me and made me think more to some things, on me, the agnostic who reads with great pleasure Céline, Samuel Beckett and Emil Cioran.
In the first postcard is an inspired picture of the Papal Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi (Basilica Papale di San Francesco), with red flowers in the foreground (Saint Francis is also the patron saint of the environment), more accurate The Lower and Upper basilicas and the portico, as seen from the Lower Plaza of Saint Francis. One of the most important places of Christian pilgrimage in Italy and the mother church of the Order of Friars Minor, basilica was built between 1228 (the year of the canonization of Francisc) şi 1253 and is decorated with frescoes by Cimabue, Giotto, Simone Martini, Pietro Lorenzetti and Pietro Cavallini. The architecture is a synthesis of the Romanesque and Gothic styles. The second postcard have in addition some image of the bright and spacious interior of basilica.
An interesting detail is that the first postcard has reached to me even isn't specified the country of destination.
About the stamps
On the first postcard
The first stamp is one of the two issued on May 5th, 2003 by Italy for Europa 2003 - Poster Art. In a framework inspired by Art Nouveau style, are shown two posters made by the designer, illustrator, decorator and painter Marcello Dudovich (Trieste, 1878 - Milano, 1962).
• 0.41 EUR
• 0.52 EUR - It's on the postcard 0036
The second stamp is part of the series Donna nell'arte (Women in Art), the sixth definitive series of the Italian Republic, which replaced in 1998 the series Castles of Italy:
• 2002 (I.P.Z.S.) - Hebe, sculpture by Antonio Canova (0.01 EUR)
• 2003/2004 (I.P.Z.S. S.p.a.) - Hebe, sculpture by Antonio Canova (0.01 EUR) - it's on other postcard
• 2002 (I.P.Z.S.) - Coin of Syracuse in the Vth century BC (0.02 EUR)
• 2003/2004 (I.P.Z.S. S.p.a.) - Coin of Syracuse in the Vth century BC (0.02 EUR)
• 2002 (I.P.Z.S.) - The Legend of the True Cross, fresco by Piero della Francesca (0.03 EUR)
• 2003/2004 (I.P.Z.S. S.p.a.) - The Legend of the True Cross, fresco by Piero della Francesca (0.03 EUR)
• 1998 (I.P.Z.S.) - A woman's head from the Etruscan Period (100 L)
• 1999 (I.P.Z.S.) - A woman's head from the Etruscan Period (100 L/0.05 EUR)
• 2002 (I.P.Z.S.) - A woman's head from the Etruscan Period (0.05 EUR)
• 2003/2004 (I.P.Z.S. S.p.a.) - A woman's head from the Etruscan Period (0.05 EUR)
• 2002 (I.P.Z.S.) - Woman statue of the IIIrd century BC (0.10 EUR)
• 2003/2004 (I.P.Z.S. S.p.a.) - Woman statue of the IIIrd century BC (0.10 EUR) - it's on other postcard
• 2002 (I.P.Z.S.) - Danae, painted by Correggio (0.20 EUR)
• 2003/2004 (I.P.Z.S. S.p.a.) Danae, painted by Correggio (0.20 EUR)
• 1998 (I.P.Z.S.) - The Feast of Herod and the Dance of Salome, fresco by Filippino Lippi (450 L)
• 1999 (I.P.Z.S.) - The Feast of Herod and the Dance of Salome, fresco by Filippino Lippi (450 L/0.23 EUR)
• 2002 (I.P.Z.S.) - The Feast of Herod and the Dance of Salome, fresco by Filippino Lippi (0.23 EUR) - it’s on this postcard
• 1998 (I.P.Z.S.) - Portrait of woman, by Pollaiuolo (650 L)
• 1999 (I.P.Z.S.) - Portrait of woman, by Pollaiuolo (650 L/0.34 EUR)
• 1998 (I.P.Z.S.) - Woman with the Unicorn, by Raffaello (800 L)
• 1999 (I.P.Z.S.) - Woman with the Unicorn, by Raffaello (800 L/0.41 EUR)
• 2002 (I.P.Z.S.) - Woman with the Unicorn, by Raffaello (0.41 EUR)
• 2003/2004 (I.P.Z.S. S.p.a.) Woman with the Unicorn, by Raffaello (0.41 EUR)
• 2003/2004 (I.P.Z.S. S.p.a.) - Venus, by Titian (0.45 EUR)
• 2002 (I.P.Z.S.) - Portrait of young woman, by Parmigianino (0.50 EUR)
• 2003/2004 (I.P.Z.S. S.p.a.) - Portrait of young woman, by Parmigianino (0.50 EUR)
• 1998 (I.P.Z.S.) - Bust of Constanza Buonarelli, by Bernini (1000 L)
• 1999 (I.P.Z.S.) - Bust of Constanza Buonarelli, by Bernini (1000 L/0.52 EUR)
• 2002 (I.P.Z.S.) - Bust of Constanza Buonarelli by Bernini (0.52 EUR)
• 2003/2004 (I.P.Z.S. S.p.a.) - St. George and the Princess of Trebizond, fresco by Pisanello (0.65 EUR)
• 2003/2004 (I.P.Z.S. S.p.a.) - Neptune Offering Gifts to Venice, painting by Tiepolo (0.70 EUR)
• 2002 (I.P.Z.S.) - The springtime, painting by Botticelli (0.77 EUR)
• 2003/2004 (I.P.Z.S. S.p.a.) - Courtesans, painting by Carpaccio (0.85 EUR) - it's on other postcard
• 2003/2004 (I.P.Z.S. S.p.a.) - Venus and Mars bound by Love, painting by Veronese (0.90 EUR)
On the second postcard
The stamp belongs to a series of definitive stamps, about which I wrote here.
References
Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi - Wikipedia
Serie donna nell'arte - La nueva enciclopedia online dei francobolli italiani... e anche stranieri
Sender 1: Natalino Trentini
sent from Florence (Tuscany / Italy), on 02.11.2011
photo: Stefano Caporali
Sender 2: Ana
sent from Florence (Tuscany / Italy), on 31.05.2014
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