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The Europa postage stamp (also known as Europa - CEPT until 1992) is an annual joint issue of stamps with a common design or theme by postal administrations of member countries of the European Communities (1956–1959), the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) from 1960 to 1992, and the PostEurop Association since 1993. Europe is the central theme. 			 			 			 			 
"Castles" was the Europa theme for 2017. Two stamps were issued to celebrate Europa. The €0,95 stamp is a photograph of a portion of Castel Gandolfo. The €1,00 value is a photograph of a portion of the palace facade of the Belvedere Palace, approximately half of the width of the structure. The Belvedere Palace is now a part of the Vatican Museums. The stamps were issued is sheets of ten. 
Castel Gandolfo is located 25 kilometers (16 miles) southeast of Rome on the shore of Lake Albano. It was built on the ruins of Emperor Domitian's country residence (he ruled 81-96). The ducal Gandolfi family took charge of the property in the 12th century, followed by the Savelli family who sold it to the Apostolic Camera (formerly known as the Papal Treasury) in 1596. The castle was rebuilt by Pope Urban VIII (1623-1644) who first visited the site in 1626. Beginning with Urban VIII, Castel Gandolfo served as a papal summer residence. During World War II Castel Gandolfo was opened to refugees. Pope Pius XII's bedroom became a nursery for 36 children born there. Pope Francis opened the castle to visitors, and it now serves as a museum. The Vatican Observatory was relocated from the Vatican Gardens to Castel Gandolfo in the mid-1930s and remains the center for astronomical observation, along with an associated site in Arizona. 
The Belvedere Palace contains works of art from the Vatican Museum collections. It was originally built by Pope Innocent VIII (1484-1492) on the northern part of Vatican Hill. ''Belvedere" may be translated as "good or fresh view." In Renaissance Italy, its location allowed its users some respite during the Roman summer heat. In 1506 the architect Bramante designed the Belvedere Courtyard which connected the Belvedere Palace with the Apostolic Palace. "Belvedere palaces" are also located in Vienna, Austria (including a Belvedere Chapel), Potsdam, Germany, and Weimar, Germany.

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