The Columbus Lighthouse

The idea of a monumental lighthouse to Columbus dates from the nineteenth century, and a competition in 1929 was won by a young British architect with a design for a colossal reclining cross. It was finally built for the 1992 quincentenary: a concrete slab some two hundred metres long lying flat on the ground in the shape of a cross, its arms holding museum galleries with displays donated by countries across the Americas and Europe. Set into it are 149 searchlights designed to throw a cross of light onto the clouds, visible for many kilometres, though they are fired rarely because of the strain on the electricity supply. A tomb inside claims to hold Columbus's remains, a claim Seville also makes.

What you actually see

• The structure - a two-hundred-metre concrete cross lying on the ground.
• The country galleries - displays contributed by nations across the Americas.
• The tomb - the disputed resting place of Columbus.
• The light beams - a cross projected onto the clouds, on the rare nights it runs.

When to go

November to April is drier. The searchlights are switched on only for particular occasions, so do not plan around seeing them. Mornings are cooler; the interior is not air-conditioned throughout. Closed on Mondays.

Honest expectations

The building was hugely expensive and its construction displaced a large number of households, which remains a live grievance in the city and is not mentioned inside. The galleries are dated and unevenly maintained. The claim to Columbus's remains is contested by Seville, where DNA testing has supported the Spanish case. The surrounding district warrants ordinary caution.

Nearby

The Zona Colonial is across the river; the Tres Ojos caves are ten minutes east.