Romfilatelia has included in the current editorial plan the postage stamps issue entitled Timișoara 2023, European Capital of Culture, which will enter into circulation on Friday, February 17, this year. The issue consists of 4 stamps, a perforated souvenir sheet and two First Day Covers.
With documentary testimony dating back to 1212, Timișoara has had a troubled history, being, as the chronicler says, “subject to the times”. Since 1918, after the accomplishment of the Great Union, it returned home to its motherland, Romania. A city with a broad European outlook, it has enjoyed good development on all levels, with most of the firsts in areas of great diversity.
In 2023, the city on the Bega is the European Capital of Culture. The slogan of the whole campaign is Shine your light – Light up your city! (in Romanian: Luminează orașul prin tine!). The transformative journey is seen as a process around three main territories: the territory of people, the territory of places and the territory of connections that will prepare the city for new experiences.
The postage stamps of the issue depict the following historical monument buildings:
The stamp with the face value of Lei 1.40 illustrates the Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral (in Romanian: Catedrala Mitropolitană Ortodoxă), a neo-Romanesque edifice whose bells were harmonized by the composer Sabin Drăgoi. Located on the south side of Victory Square (in Romanian: Piaţa Victoriei), it is the most imposing religious building in Timișoara, a historical monument of national importance. The construction of the cathedral began in 1936 and the consecration of the place of worship, dedicated to the “Holy Three Hierarchs”, took place on October 6th, 1946, by Patriarch Nicodim Munteanu, in the presence of King Michael I, as founder of the cathedral.
The stamp with the face value of Lei 2.20 depicts the Roman Catholic Dome. Built in the Baroque style, the Dome is located in Union Square (in Romanian: Piaţa Unirii), the most beautiful square in the city, surrounded by buildings built in a variety of styles: Baroque, Classicist, Historicist Eclectic or 1900s Secession art movement. In its current form, the square was designed in 1988 - 1989 by architect Șerban Sturdza.
The stamp with the face value of Lei 11 illustrates the Water Castle in Iosefin, an industrial monument located
near the Bega canal. It was built between 1913 and 1914, in the style of the Secession art movement of the 1900s. Today the tower is transformed into a permanent cultural centre, becoming one of the most important tourist attractions in the Iosefin neighbourhood.
On the stamp with the face value of Lei 19.50 is represented the Palace of Culture, located in Victory Square. The Palace includes the Romanian Opera House of Timișoara and the three State theatres: “Mihai Eminescu” National Theatre, German State Theatre, “Csiky Gergely” Hungarian Theatre. Burned down and repaired several times, the building underwent another intervention when, between 1934-1936, the main façade was fundamentally modified by the construction of a huge arch in modern style.
The perforated souvenir sheet of the issue has in its graphic composition, together with the image of the Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral within the postage stamp with the face value of Lei 34, a panoramic view of Union Square, while on the two FDCs the images are illustrated the Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral, respectively an overview image of Union Square.
Romfilatelia thanks Timișoara City Hall for its documentary and photographic support granted in the accomplishment of this postage stamps issue.
