Spanish tourism. 27th issue

    Spain  1973.06.11

    In issue: Stamp(s): 5   

    Printing: engraving

  • Number by catalogue:  Michel: 2027   Yvert: 1787   Scott: 1760  

    Perforation type: 13 ¼x13 ¼

    Subject:

    8 pesetas. The windmills of La Mancha*

    Additional:

    *La Mancha is an arid, fertile, elevated plateau (610 m or 2000 ft.) of central Spain, south of Madrid, stretching between the Montes (mountains) de Toledo and the western spurs of the Cerros (hills) de Cuenca, and bounded on the south by the Sierra Morena and on the north by the La Alcarria region. It includes portions of the modern provinces of Cuenca, Toledo, and Albacete, and most of the Ciudad Real province. It constitutes the southern portion of the Castile-La Mancha autonomous community and makes up most of the region.

     

    The windmills of La Mancha were made particularly famous by a scene in Cervantes "Don Quixote de La Mancha" where the title character mistakes them for giants sent by an evil enchanter, giving rise to the phrase "tilting at windmills".