Plaza de Colón, Madrid

Two modern sculptures commemorate the discovery of the Americas in this central square. You'll see Joaquín Vaquero Turcios' chunky cement blocks decorated with inscriptions by philosophers and indigenous leaders on the Calle Serrano side, and a more traditional sculpture of Columbus himself on a pedestal surrounded by historical characters involved in the conquest on the Paseo de la Castellana side. The arts center- Centro Cultural de la Villa - is hidden beneath the noisy cascading waterfall. The shuttle bus to the airport leaves from the garage below the square. On the other side of the road you'll find the Museo de Cera (Wax Museum).