View of the City Walls and the Basilica of San Domenico

The view over the ramparts and the Basilica of San Domenico, in Siena

This belvedere of the Via del Costone offers a true postcard of Tuscany, over the ramparts and the Basilica of San Domenico. The Siena audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this viewpoint, where the red of the brick and the green of the hills compose an unforgettable picture.

The postcard of Tuscany

From this belvedere of the Via del Costone, it is a true postcard of Tuscany that offers itself to the gaze. The warm red of the brick of the houses and the ramparts of Siena mingles with the green of the surrounding hills, under the golden light so characteristic of the region. In the foreground rises the imposing silhouette of the Basilica of San Domenico, perched on its hill, whose mass of brick dominates this slope of the town. Below extend the old fortifications, the gardens and the valleys that gird the medieval town. This viewpoint allows to grasp the beauty of the site of Siena, a town built on its hills, and the harmony between the architecture and the Tuscan landscape. It is one of those places where you understand why the region inspires so many painters and travellers. A belvedere offering one of the finest views of the town, the view over the ramparts and the Basilica of San Domenico is a contemplative stop of Siena.

What to see

Here you enjoy, from the belvedere of the Via del Costone, a true postcard of Tuscany: the red of the brick of the houses and the ramparts mingled with the green of the hills, dominated by the imposing Basilica of San Domenico perched on its hill, and the fortifications and valleys that gird the town. The view over the ramparts and San Domenico is one of the finest of Siena. It is a contemplative stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The belvedere of the Via del Costone lies in the heart of Siena, reachable on foot. It is an open-air viewpoint, freely accessible. The view is particularly beautiful on a clear day and in the golden light of the end of the day.

What can you see from the belvedere of the Via del Costone in Siena?

A true postcard of Tuscany: the red of the brick of the houses and the ramparts of Siena mingled with the green of the hills, dominated by the imposing Basilica of San Domenico perched on its hill, and the fortifications that gird the town.