Kiev Pechersk Lavra, Ukraine

Another postcard from last year. This is a Unesco site, too, but I love it more for its colours and the atmosphere - and there's a Postcrossing stamp and a special cancellation on it, and those were actually the main point of this card. Postcrossing stamps are such a cool idea, I wish the Royal Mail would issue one as well but apparently they won't even consider it. :( ...and the Netherlands are going to get a SECOND set later this month!

Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, also known as the Kiev Monastery of the Caves, is a historic Orthodox Christian monastery which gave its name to one of the city districts where it is located in Kiev.

Since its foundation as the cave monastery in 1051 the Lavra has been a preeminent center of Eastern Orthodox Christianity in Eastern Europe. Together with the Saint Sophia Cathedral, it is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monastery complex is considered a separate national historic-cultural preserve (sanctuary), the national status to which was granted on 13 March 1996. The Lavra is not only located in another part of the city, but is part of a different national sanctuary than Saint Sophia Cathedral. While being a cultural attraction, the monastery is currently active. It was named one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine on 21 August 2007, based on voting by experts and the internet community.