I have nice cover to share with you today. This cover was sent by Anna Krzeminska on 2ed March 2009. Thanks you very much my dear friend. Cover shows one of the historical site of Warsaw, which is UNESCO world Heritage site
Warsaw's Old Town (Polish: Stare Miasto, colloquially: Starówka) is the oldest historic district of the city. It is bounded by Wybrzeże Gdańskie, along the bank of the Vistula, and by Grodzka, Mostowa and Podwale Streets. It is one of Warsaw's most prominent tourist attractions.
The heart of the area is the Old Town Market Place, with its restaurants, cafés and shops. Surrounding streets feature medieval architecture such as the city walls, barbican and St. John's Cathedral.
Warsaw's Old Town was established in the 13th century. Initially surrounded by an earthwork rampart, prior to 1339 it was fortified with brick city walls. The town originally grew up around the castle of the Dukes of Mazovia that later became the Royal Castle. The Market Square (Rynek Starego Miasta) was laid out sometime in the late 13th or early 14th century, along the main road linking the castle with the New Town to the north.
Until 1817 the Old Town's most notable feature was the Town Hall built before 1429. In 1701 the square was rebuilt by Tylman of Gameren, and in 1817 the Town Hall was demolished. Since the 19th century, the four sides of the Market Square have borne the names of four notable Poles who once lived on the respective sides: Ignacy Zakrzewski (south), Hugo Kołłątaj (west), Jan Dekert (north) and Franciszek Barss (east).
In 1918 the Royal Castle once again became the seat of Poland's highest authorities: the President of Poland and his chancellery. In the late 1930s, during the mayoralty of Stefan Starzyński, the municipal authorities began refurbishing the Old Town and restoring it to its former glory. The Barbican and the Old Town Market Place were partly restored. These efforts, however, were brought to an end by the outbreak of World War II.
Rococo tenement portal depicting a galleon at Świętojańska Street, early 18th century
During the Invasion of Poland (1939), much of the district was badly damaged by the German Luftwaffe, which targeted the city's residential areas and historic landmarks in a campaign of terror bombing.[2][3] Following the Siege of Warsaw, parts of the Old Town were rebuilt, but immediately after the Warsaw Uprising (August-October 1944) what had been left standing was systematically blown up by the German Army. A statue commemorating the Uprising, "the Little Insurgent," now stands on the Old Town's medieval city wall.
After World War II, the Old Town was meticulously rebuilt. As many of the original bricks were reused as possible. The rubble was sifted for reusable decorative elements, which were reinserted into their original places. Bernardo Bellotto's 18th-century vedute, as well as pre-World-War II architecture students' drawings, were used as essential sources in the reconstruction effort.
2002 Poland Stamp Issue
This year Polish Post is bringing a new issue of current stamps called: "Polish cities", on which are being presented:
value 2 zloty - the Cathedral of Gniezno and the coffin with the relics of St. Adalberg. With the city of Gniezno are linked the early stages of the Polish state and the outset of Christianity in Poland. For the introduction of Christianity in Poland is admitted year 966 in which year prince Mieszko and his court have been babtized in the city of Gniezno. Gniezno remained the city of Poland up to the year 1038.
value 2, 10 zloty - The Cathedral of Wawel and "Lajkonik" /rider riding a hobby-horse./. W first reference about Kraków was made by Ibrahim ibn Jacob, a Jewish voyager from Tortosa. In 1038 the Polish King Kasimir the Renovator moved the capital of the state to this town after the destruction of Gniezno by invadors.
"Lajkonik" is one of the most typical figure of Cracow. It is with Mariacka Tower, the Wawel Hill and the Barbican one of the well known plastic motive of Kraków. Each year there is being held a Cracovian festivity, The Cracov Days, commemorating the repulse of the invading Tartars in the 13th century. The hero of this festivity is riding a hobby-horse in Tartar disguise/ by the project of the painter and writer Stanislav Wyspiański from 1904/ through the streets of the city.
value 3, 20 zloty - The King Palace in Warsaw and the "Syrenka" - the Mermaid - the arms of the city. The first reference of the city originates from the year 1313 and from the year 1400 we have the oldest document sealed with the Mermaid. Warsaw became the capital of Poland in 1596. The king Zygmunt III Waza took this decision after the big fire of the castle of Wawel in Cracov.
The oldest seal of Warsaw presents the emblem as a winged monster with a man's body, legs of a bull and lion's tail armed with a sword and a shield. Only in the latter part of the XVIII century with the classicistic influances the emblem took the shape of a neat, half naked figure of a woman. In this shape the emblem has been ratified in 1938.
On the day of introducing of the stamp in circulation there will be delivered for sale three FDC, cancelled special issue in use of the Post Offices: Warszawa 1, Kraków 1 and Gniezno 1
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