Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia

This site includes thousands of graves, some of them masterpieces of creative genius. So far I only have necropolises from Cerveteri

Necropolises of Cerveteri

The most famous attraction of Cerveteri is the Necropoli della Banditaccia, which has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site together with the necropolis in Tarquinia. It covers an area of 400 hectares (990 acres), of which 10 hectares (25 acres) can be visited, encompassing a total of ca. 1,000 tombs often housed in characteristic mounds. It is the largest ancient necropolis in the Mediterranean area. The name Banditaccia comes from the leasing (bando) of areas of land to the Cerveteri population by the local landowners.

The tombs date from the 9th century BC (Villanovan culture) to the later Etruscan period (3rd century BC). The earliest tombs are in the shape of a pit, in which the ashes of the dead were housed; also simple potholes are present. - in: wikipedia

Mantua and Sabbioneta

An Italian friend recommended me recently the city of Mantua to spend a weekend. I don't have plans to visit Italy again in a near future, but since I don't have any postcard from Sabbioneta maybe it is a good idea to visit both 

Mantua

This postcard was sent by Marina

Mantua (Italian: Mantova) is a city and commune in Lombardy, Italy, and capital of the province of the same name.

Mantua is surrounded on three sides by artificial lakes, created during the 12th century, as the city's defence system.

Mantua's historic power and influence under the Gonzaga family has made it one of the main artistic, cultural, and especially musical hubs of Northern Italy and the country as a whole.

The Gonzagas protected the arts and culture, and were hosts to several important artists such as Leone Battista Alberti, Andrea Mantegna, Giulio Romano, Donatello, Peter Paul Rubens, Pisanello, Domenico Fetti, Luca Fancelli and Nicolò Sebregondi. Though many of the masterworks have been dispersed, the cultural value of Mantua is nonetheless outstanding, with many of Mantua's patrician and ecclesiastical buildings being uniquely important examples of Italian architecture. - in: wikipedia

Su Nuraxi di Barumini

This is, so far, the only UNESCO World Heritage site in the island of Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea

Su Nuraxi di Barumini

This postcard was sent by Isabetta

The archaeological site of Su Nuraxi di Barumini in Sardinia is the best-known example of the unique form of Bronze Age defensive complexes known as nuraghi. The elevated position of Su Nuraxi dominates a vast and fertile plain to the west of the municipal district of Barumini. The site was occupied from the time of construction of nuraghe in the 2nd millennium BCE until 3rd century CE. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/833/

Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessalonika

Thessaloniki is home to numerous notable Byzantine monuments, fifteen of them included in the World Heritage list

Byzantine Walls of Thessaloniki

This postcard was sent by Elena

The Walls of Thessaloniki are the city walls surrounding the city of Thessaloniki during the Middle Ages and until the late 19th century, when large parts of the walls, including the entire seaward section, were demolished as part of the Ottoman authorities' restructuring of Thessaloniki's urban fabric. The city was fortified from its establishment in the late 4th century B.O.T, but the present walls date from the early Byzantine period, ca. 390, and incorporate parts of an earlier, late 3rd-century wall. - in: wikipedia

The monuments inscribed (in red what I have):

• City Walls
• Rotunda
• Church of Acheiropoietos
• Church of St. Demetrios
• Latomou Monastery
• Church of St. Sophia
• Church of Panagia Chalkeon
• Church of St. Panteleimon
• Church of the Holy Apostles
• Church of St. Nicholas Orphanos
• Church of St. Catherine
• Church of Christ Saviour
• Blatades Monastery
• Church of Prophet Elijah
• Byzantine Bath

Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus

This site includes monuments from the 4th century, such as the temple of Asklepios, the Tholos and the Theatre

Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus

This postcard was sent by Elena

The Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus is a theatre in the Greek city of Epidaurus, located on the southeast end of the sanctuary dedicated to the ancient Greek God of medicine, Asclepius. It is built on the west side of Cynortion Mountain, near modern Lygourio, and belongs to the Epidaurus Municipality. It is considered to be the most perfect ancient Greek theatre with regard to acoustics and aesthetics. - in: wikipedia

Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis: San Ignacio Mini, Santa Ana, Nuestra Señora de Loreto and Santa Maria Mayor (Argentina), Ruins of Sao Miguel das Missoes (Brazil)

The postcard I have from Argentina, besides this site, also shows the Iguazu, a World Heritage site as well. But since I have another postcard from there I post this one here because it's the only one I have so far showing a Mission in Argentina. 

São Miguel das Missões

This postcard was sent by Livia

The Ruins of São Miguel das Missões is a Unesco World Heritage site located in the municipality of São Miguel das Missões, in the northwestern region of Rio Grande do Sul state, in southern Brazil.

The São Miguel das Missões mission was built between 1735 to around 1745 as Mission San Miguel Arcángel. São Miguel das Missões was one of the many Spanish Colonial Jesuit Reductions in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia. - in: wikipedia

San Ignacio Mini (left bottom corner)

This postcard was sent by Luzia

San Ignacio Miní was one of the many missions founded in 1632, in Argentina, by the Jesuits in what the colonial Spaniards called the Province of Paraguay of the Americas during the Spanish colonial period. It is located near present-day San Ignacio valley, some 60 km north of Posadas, Misiones Province, Argentina.

The ruins are one of the best preserved among the several built in the territory of the Province of Paraguay, which today is divided among Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. Due to its accessibility, it is one of the most visited. - in: wikipedia

The Missions (in red what I have):

• São Miguel das Missões
• San Ignacio Mini
• Nuestra Señora de Santa Ana
• Nuestra Señora de Loreto
• Santa María la Mayor

Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quirigua

Quirigua is known for its unusually large stelae elaborately carved from single blocks of red sandstone

Quirigua

This postcard was sent by Marco

The Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quirigua is located in the Department of Izabal in Guatemala. The inscribed property is comprised of 34 hectares of land dedicated exclusively to the conservation of the ancient architecture and the seventeen monuments that were carved between 426 AD and 810 AD and make up this great city. 

The artful production of monolithic stone monuments, carved in sandstone without the use of metal tools, is outstanding. The monuments, called stelae, contain hieroglyphic texts describing significant calendar dates, celestial events such as eclipses, passages of Maya mythology and political events, as well as important social and historic events to the development of the city. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/149

Stela J

This postcard was sent by Marco

Stela J was erected by K'ak' Tiliw Chan Yopaat in 756 and is carved in the wrap-around style. It stands 5 metres (16 ft) high and is located in the southern part of the Great Plaza. The dedicatory cache consisted of a house-shaped clay box with unknown contents. - in: wikipedia