Right priorities, a photo from Coimbra, North

Photographer's Note

It is quite common to see a panorama of a town with a church on the top of the hill. Alternatively it may be a castle. Such central location demonstrates the importance of the structure. Coimbra is different. At the very top of the panorama there are university buildings and university tower. In my opinion these are the right priorities. The most important thing in Coimbra is not a church but university. It dominates the skyline.
You may be surprised to hear it from me because I often declare myself as a Christian. Simone Weil, a Christian philosopher suggested an interesting attitude. She says, if a Christian genuinely faces a choice between Jesus and the truth, he or she should choose the truth, because if you follow the truth you will sooner or later return to Jesus (that is what she believed). If you choose Jesus against the truth you may turn into a fanatic. I think the same applies to other religions. We should follow the truth, give the knowledge the highest priority, that does not always guarantee success but this is the best we can do. I am so glad that the university is symbolically in the heart of the town.

Having said that, I read that the university buildings were originally a king's castle which were later transformed into university.

This picture presents a fragment of a wider panorama. To see the whole view at the blue hour, follow this link:
https://www.trekearth.com/viewphotos.php?l=7&p=1124704

40.206303, -8.432631

jean113, Royaldevon, ikeharel, jhm, PaulVDV, Fis2, COSTANTINO, ChrisJ, BennyV, macjake, mcmtanyel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Silvio1953 (220717) 2021-05-24 4:35

Ciao Mariusz, great view of fantastic castle, wonderful colors, splendid light, fine details and excellent clarity, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

jang (2001) 2021-05-24 6:46

Hi Mariusz
I respect your free thinking. One must escape the fetters of religion.
Until the 19th century, Joseon(old korea) despised Western science and civilization.
Only uncivilized China was respected. Religiousized Neo-Confucianism is the main cause. Joseon's right to appoint the king was in China. The ruling class of Joseon considered only China to be noble. The Joseon Dynasty collapsed on its own.

Życzymy bogatego tygodnia.

jean113 (27639) 2021-05-24 6:53

Hello Mariusz, the buildings present a colourful scene, especially with the background of the beautiful blue sky.
Yes, I can imagine the university as a king's castle.
Excellent sharp shot.
Interesting notes.
Kind regards, Jean.

Royaldevon (85674) 2021-05-24 7:01

Hello Mariusz,

This is a fine compacted view of the town. The buildings appear to be built like giant steps up the hillside, made in a variety of colours and shapes, to add to the interest.
If we study the orientation of the buildings, we can can see street patterns.
It's a well composed and well exposed photograph.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

ikeharel (112521) 2021-05-24 7:15

Old town Coimbra was beautifully built on the slope from the mondego river up, and the university tower on top.
A fine take, Mariusz, each house shown immaculately, good scale of layers upon layers while looking upwards.
My cong.s for this one,
Ike

jhm (211734) 2021-05-24 8:25

Hello Mariusz,

A very busy picture with all the frontages of the houses.
The little church tower above the roof are pleasant
Excellent photographed.
Composition and presentation are excellent done.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John

pajaran (115025) 2021-05-24 8:54

Pozdrav.
Lep pogled, interesantan i dobar tekst ...
Lepe fasade i detalji, dobro pokazano sa lepim bojama i kontrastom.
Lep deo grada sa Crkvom, lepa fotografija.
Zelim vam lepo popodne, sve najbolje u novoj nedelji koja je pocela.
Paja

PaulVDV (62810) 2021-05-24 9:49

Hello Mariusz,
Interesting line of thought.
But what if the heart of the city is not the top of the hill? But for example the river bank here (not visible in this photo)?
What about those numerous cities that have bought land far beyond built-up areas in order to erect brand new and spacious university buildings there? Have they then expelled knowledge and wisdom from the city?
I agree that truth and success are not immediately found on the same path.
In this picture Coimbra is presented a bit like Porto in many photos with the many buildings rising behind each other on the steep hill.
I was here in 1985 and find your photos very inviting to go back.
Magnificent labyrinthine hill.
Best regards, Paul

Tue (91658) 2021-05-24 10:02

Hello Mariusz,
All those house look great from here as they were built so attractively against the steep slope. The white tones stand out well and you handled the exposure very well. The orange roofs and the few differently coloured façades add a nice contrast.
Lars

Fis2 (169847) 2021-05-24 10:06

Czesc Mariusz!
Lubiê ten charakterystyczny widok jasnych budynkow i czerwone dachy.
Budynek z wieza na drugim planie dodaje uroku tej kompozycji.
Fajne swiatlo i kolorki.
Milego wieczoru.
Krzysztof

jmdias (114360) 2021-05-24 10:22

mariusz

my cousin learned in this university (history), unfortunately she died. nice view of the many levels of the buildings and the Torre da Cabra in the top. do you know the fado song COIMBRA? it is a traditional old song with beautiful lyrics that make poetry using the university elements mixed with a man trying to seduce a woman.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX7oQjRPeiI

take care

jorge

lousat (138683) 2021-05-24 10:28

Hi Mariusz,it is a surprise, but therefore it is easily explained because the university buildings were a castle, so the priority was respected. The photo is a show of quality, the details and exposure are really professional, it is always a pleasure to observe the perfection of your photos. Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

COSTANTINO (115605) 2021-05-24 22:10

Hello dear friend and have a nice day
excellent panorama of this town
I like the way you presented all these
buildings in different levels
photo with great lightness
ad sharpness
all these presentations with a church
on the top
of the hill or may be a castle are too
pleasant to me
regards
Costantino

jemaflor (146382) 2021-05-24 22:58

Hi Mariusz,
So photogenic houses and so town with all thes ecolors, good frame and perfect sharpness, lovely sunlight, it's well captured, tfs.

kasianowak (17672) 2021-05-24 23:24

Czesc Mariusz
Super kadr, bardzo dobrze uchwyciles to jak te wszystkie budynki rozmieszczone sa na zboczu i szczycie wzgorza. Super kolory architektury i bezchmurnego nieba.
Jak zwykle ciekawa notka. Mozna by sie spierac, ze budynek na gorze jest wprawdzie dominujacy, ale trzeba sie do niego dlugo wspinac. Moze dlatego kosciol jest nizej?? ;-)
Pozdrawiam serdecznie
Kasia

ifege (47069) 2021-05-24 23:38

Hi Mariusz
I do like urban scenes like this with the buildings almost appearing to have been built on top of one another up hillsides. Excellent detail and colour.
cheers
Ian

everlasting (19680) 2021-05-25 0:40

a well composed image with good clarity and sharpness and colours. You choose your PoV well and the camera compacted the view for a more intense effect.

ChrisJ (171340) 2021-05-25 3:52

Hi Mariusz

A tremendous upward pov with amazing colour of the facades. Matera in Italy has a similar hillside location but this is far more vibrant and colourful. Good sharpness and tight framing. Tfs!

BennyV (34746) 2021-05-25 10:29

Hello Mariusz

Great cityscape with lovely light and colours.
Tfs.

Benny

macjake (98262) 2021-05-29 15:28

Hi Mariusz
you're making me want to re-visit my Portugal series now.
again, you couldn't have taken it in better light. everything is so clear, its fun viewing all the buildings closely and examining them. I know EXACTLY where you took this shot :)
wonderful. cheers
Craig

mcmtanyel (67757) 2021-06-30 19:57

Hello Mariusz,
Another photo that should go into my College Campuses collection. Charming buildings!
Regards,
MT