COVER N.74 - Italy

Postmark: 52015 Prattovecchio (AR) - C 17-1-22
Posted on the 17th January; received on the 12th February
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Thanks a lot Roberto for this nice cover with a full set of 2 huge stamps. Quite a nice and appreciated addition to the fold. 

The two stamps constitute a commemorative set issued on 07MAR2008, highlighting the then forthcoming International Philately Festival, that took place in  the Pallazo dei Congressi (Congress Palace) in Rome, between 21 and 25 October 2009.

The 0,60€ stamp is illustrated with a view of the outside of the venue: Il Pallazo dei Congressi. The modernist lines of the building can clearly be grasped from the illustration and its construction began in 1938 within the scope of the Universal Exposition of 1942 that sadly was never to be, due to the second supreme nastiness.  The building was conceived by Adalberto Libera and was only finished in 1954.

The image on the 0,65€ stamp needs no description since it pictures the most iconic of all the iconic Rome landmarks (well, the Fontana di Trevi might also be a worthy contender to this title...)

Construction of the colosseum was ordered by emperor Vespesian and began in 72 AD, to be completed in 80 AD.

One cannot enter the colosseum and not be taken aback  by the sheer size of its amphitheatre. But what's even more striking and shiver inducing is just the thought of what was going down in the arena for the perverse enjoyment of the people....

The postmark tells us that the cover was mailled from Pratovecchio, an Italian comune of the Arezzo province, in the region of  Tuscany.