vistas

Vistas is the plural form of vista, a term used to describe a pleasing or expansive view of a scene, particularly one observed from a fixed vantage point. The word derives from the Spanish and ultimately Latin vista meaning sight or appearance, and in English it commonly refers to horizons, landscapes, or planned sightlines that invite observation.

In landscape design, a vista is a deliberately framed view that draws attention to a landmark, natural feature, or horizon. Designers create vistas by arranging plants, structures, and terrain to form a long sightline, sometimes enhancing it with archways, avenues, or terraces. In urban planning, vistas are preserved or created along streets and plazas to provide orderly sightlines toward focal points such as monuments or skylines.

In photography and film, the term is used to describe expansive or dramatic views captured in a frame or sequence. The concept is closely related to panorama and to compositional techniques that guide the viewer’s eye toward a destination within the scene. Tourism and travel writing frequently employ the term to denote marked outlooks or “vista points” along routes.

Vistas can refer to multiple such views within a landscape or city, and the term is widely used across disciplines including architecture, landscape architecture, photography, and travel writing. While the word is most often literal, it can also be used metaphorically to describe a broad or promising prospect.