Built in honour of the man who moved the capital of Poland from Kraków to Warsaw - King Sigismund III Vasa - this column was erected way back in 1664 by Sigismund’s son, Władysław IV. Designed by Italian architects Augustyn Locci and Constantino Tencalla, and standing twenty-two metres high, local legend asserts that Sigismund rattles his sabre whenever Warsaw is in trouble, an occurrence first reported during the 1794 Kościuszko Uprising and again during WWII. With the Warsaw Uprising in full swing the column took a direct hit from a tank shell and came crashing down. Amazingly Sigismund survived, losing only his sword, and was returned to his new perch in 1949. The remains of the original column can be seen nearby beside the Royal Castle; touch them for good luck.