Columbus Circle

Columbus Circle is a traffic circle and public square at the south-west corner of Central Park, where Broadway, Eighth Avenue and Central Park South converge. It was created in 1892 to mark the 400th anniversary of Columbus's Atlantic crossing; at its center stands a 21-meter granite column topped with a marble statue of the Genoese explorer, sculpted by the Italian Gaetano Russo. By tradition, all distances to New York City are measured from Columbus Circle, a legacy of the days when the square was the bustling gateway to Central Park. Today the mirrored Time Warner Center dominates the west side with its twin towers and luxury shopping mall, while opposite stands the Trump International Hotel and Tower. In summer, the square is a popular meeting point with fountains and benches.