Issue date: 01 Oct, 2020
12 MONTHS, 12 STAMPS. PALENCIA
The 12 Months, 12 Stamps series is paying homage to the province of Palencia, with the first letter of its name forming a mosaic of images that capture the art, architecture, landscape and food that can be enjoyed in the region.
The background of the stamp is the Castile Channel, one of the most significant civil engineering projects of the Enlightenment in Spain, started by the Marquess of Ensenada in the middle of the 18th century, during the reign of Fernando VI. The aim of the project was to find a water route to be used for communication and transportation purposes to resolve the problem of the Castile and Leon Meseta (plateau) being so cut off. This water route is largely navigable, with boat trips offered from Herrera de Pisuerga aboard the Marqués de la Ensenada, whose deck railing and lifebuoys feature on the stamp.
An image of the Cristo del Otero makes up the vertical stroke of the grapheme. Built in 1931 and standing 20 metres tall, this work by the sculptor Victorio Macho bestows blessings upon the city from a nearby hillside.
Romanesque Palencia could not be left out of this composition, and is represented by the spire and shaft of the San Andrés de Arroyo Monastery and part of the arched façade of the Santa Eufemia de Cozuelos church The Monastery, a convent of Cistercian nuns, was founded in 1181 by the Countess Doña Mencía de Lara, and is a refined example of rural Cistercian art.
The Santa Eufemia de Cozuelos church, located within the municipality of Olmos de Ojeda, houses Mozarabic remains, dating the origins of the temple to the tenth century. The current building dates back to the twelfth century and is the only remaining evidence of what was the Real Monasterio de Freiras Comendadoras de Santiago.
The mosaics that can be seen alongside the Cristo del Otero on the vertical line are from the La Olmeda Roman Villa, a large rural mansion dating back to the Late Roman Empire (fourth century A.D.) and discovered in 1968, which has various polychromatic mosaics that have managed to be preserved in situ.
The gastronomy of the province is represented by the typical dish of Palencia suckling lamb, roast lamb from the native Churra breed.
The purple stripe at the bottom of the stamp relates to the colour of the provincial flag.
Rate A - €0.75. For a “standard” letter or postcard within Spain, up to 20 g.
Rate A2 - €0.85. For a “standard” letter or postcard within Spain, between 20 g and 50 g.
Rate B - €1.65. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to Europe (including Greenland), up to 20 g.
Rate C - €1.75. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to the rest of the world (except USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand), up to 20 g.
Rate D - €2.10. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, up to 20 g.