As my first stamp will show,I've learnt not to make assumptions this week.
I thought this was an impressive castle until I discovered it wasn't a castle at all.
The Skifa Kahla is the ancient gate to the coastal city of Mahdia, the old part of which corresponds to the Roman city of Aphrodisium.
My next stamp is of a place where international conferences are held.
This castle also called Kastello was once the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes.
The 7th century Byzantine citadel was converted by the Knights Hospitaller into their administrative centre and the palace of their Grand Master.
The Ottoman Empire used it as a command centre and fortress. Under Italian rule it became a holiday residence for the King of Italy and for Benito Mussolini, the Fascist dictator. Under the 1947 Peace Treaty with Italy, Rhodes and the Dodecanes islands were transferred to Greece.
Palace of the Grand Master sounds a more impressive title.
To see what other castles and palaces have been found on stamps please follow the links at Violet;s Sunday-Stamps-II-56.
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| Tunisia |
The Skifa Kahla is the ancient gate to the coastal city of Mahdia, the old part of which corresponds to the Roman city of Aphrodisium.
My next stamp is of a place where international conferences are held.
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| France 1980 |
In 1999 the Chateau of Rambouillet hosted the NATO peace conference on Kosovo. The rejection of the proposal by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia lead to the war in Kosovo.
The Greek island of Rhodes is the site of the palace on my last stamp this week.
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| Greece 2006 - Medieval Castle |
The 7th century Byzantine citadel was converted by the Knights Hospitaller into their administrative centre and the palace of their Grand Master.
The Ottoman Empire used it as a command centre and fortress. Under Italian rule it became a holiday residence for the King of Italy and for Benito Mussolini, the Fascist dictator. Under the 1947 Peace Treaty with Italy, Rhodes and the Dodecanes islands were transferred to Greece.
Palace of the Grand Master sounds a more impressive title.
To see what other castles and palaces have been found on stamps please follow the links at Violet;s Sunday-Stamps-II-56.
5 comments:
Impressive gate, sturdy enough for a siege. Aphrodisium is a wonderful sounding name.
Fascinating selection, including the gate.
Hi Bob - love the look of the gate in the wall in Tunisia. While the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes ... looks amazing. Interesting recent history it has - very dubious.
Cheers Hilary
I don't usually think of Greece and castles, but I definitely think of France and castles!
And I have often had a false impression of a stamp thinking it to be one thing only to find I was entirely wrong. It's humbling, to say the least.
Nice and original selection of stamps, as usual.
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