Postcards of Opatija

Opatija - in Italian Abbazia - is a few km south of Rijeka (Fiume) on the Adriatic coast in the Gulf of Kvarner (Carnaro) at the foot of Ucka mountain (Monte Maggiore), near the Italian border, just 90 km from Trieste, renowned for its mild climate also in winter. It has a picturesque rocky coastline, a 14th-century Benedictine abbey dedicated to San Giacomo della Priluca, from which the name (abbazia and opatija meaning "abbey") and a neo-Romanesque Church of the Annunciation with an unmistakable green dome, a 1906 design by Karl Seidl. Part of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire until 1918 and known at the time as the Austrian Riviera, for a period between the wars was included in the Italian Kingdom.

Place: Opatija - black and white photo card showing the historical center, the church of the Annunciation with its dome, bathers in the sea

Details: dated 1960 in pen, not postmarked, not written, with Yugoslavian stamp of 0.15
Item: opatija-0001
Price: 3.50 EUR

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Place: Opatija - a historical card of the short period when the town was part of Italy, shows a lady and small boy in the foreground posing for the photograph, along the lungomare leading to the town, that can be seen in the background with its belltower. At top left the words "Abbazia, Nordstrand". On a small building along the dock there is a 3 striped red-white-red flag, possibly added to the image before the annexation to Italy (1924).

Details: opaque, a lythographic image, seemingly hand-colored, written and posted to Italy, postmarked "Abbazia" (in Italian) 25 July 1922, with original Italian stamp of the "Poste Italiane" of 15 cents with king Vittorio Emanuele III - on the front small trace of adhesive at top - spot with color change - and a still present adhesive at bottom - the card was printed at the Buchhandlung Mandria, Abbazia, probably at a previous period still under the Austrian Empire - age wear
Item: opatija-0002
Price: 25.00 EUR

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Place: Opatija - a view from the sea of the harbour and the Ambassador Hotel

Details: posted to Italy, dated 1970, fine postmark with beach drawing and the words "Opatija Riviera Yugoslavia", Yugoslavian stamp of 0.60
Item: opatija-0003
Price: 2.50 EUR

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Place: Opatija -

Details: dated 1977, posted to Italy, postmarked with Yugoslavian stamp of 3.40
Item: opatija-0004
Price: 1.50 EUR

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Place: Opatija - the beach and the Hotel Slavija, fine colored cabin tents along the promenade, animated with people, old red bus passing

Details: written and posted to Italy, postmarked 1965, stamp with value of 25 crossed and changed to 50
Item: opatija-0005
Price: 4.50 EUR

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Place: Opatija - fine animated view of the sea promenade full of people, with the typical colored cabins

Details: dated 1972, written, not postmarked, Yugoslavian stamp of 1.00
Item: opatija-0006
Price: 1.50 EUR

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Place: Opatija - view of the marina with boats, the town in the background

Details: posted to Italy, dated 1971, fine postmark with beach drawing and the words "Opatija Riviera Yugoslavia", Yugoslavian stamp of 0.60
Item: opatija-0007
Price: 2.50 EUR

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