As many other cities in Iberian Peninsula, Segovia, located at about 90km north of Madrid, was founded by Celts, to become then a Roman possession. It is believed that the city was abandoned after the Islamic invasion of Spain, but after the Reconquista was restocked with Christians. Its position on trading routes made it an important center of trade in wool and textiles, its golden age being at the end of the Middle Ages. There followed a period of decline, but, in a strange way, the economical decadence favoured the preservation of its monumental patrimony built between the 12th and 17th centuries.
Within the environment of the old city, stand diversity of historic buildings both civil and religious, not just catholics but also Jews, like the district that served this minority, which commemorates the different cultures in the city. On the north-west extreme of the medieval wall surrounding the city is the famous Alcazar de Segovia (Segovia Castle), source of inspiration to Walt Disney (for the castle in Cinderella), and the place where Queen Isabel promised Columbus the financial backing he needed to go on the journey that will end with the discovery of America.
Located on top of a rock between the rivers Eresma and Clamores, was mentioned for the first time in 1122, although probably it existed in earlier time. It was one of the favorite residences of the kings of Castile, and a key fortress in the defense of the kingdom. Built in the transition from Romanesque to Gothic and Mudéjar decor highlighting its ample rooms, the building is structured around two courtyards and has two towers, the Keep and John II (the one shown in the postcard). Devastated by fire in 1862, was later rebuilt.
About the stamps
The first stamp is part of the fourth definitive series with the portrait of the King Juan Carlos I, about which I wrote here. About the third stamp, Biodiversidad y Oceanografía (Biodiversity and Oceanography), I wrote here.
This is a post for Postcard Friendship Friday #161, hosted on Beth's blog The Best Hearts are Crunchy. Click on the button below to visit all the other participants.
References
Segovia - Wikipedia
Alcázar of Segovia - Wikipedia
Visit Segovia - Segovia Mint
Sender: David Gil (direct swap)
Sent from Madrid (Community of Madrid / Spain), on 27.02.2012
I love this postcard. I have often wondered where Disney got his inspiration for Cinderella's castle. That is just fabulous. Thank you for posting!
ReplyDeleteHappy Postcard Friendship Friday and have a lovely Easter Weekend.