Warsaw's Old Town, historic buildings are located, reaching even the time of the late Middle Ages. The center of this area is the Castle Square was built on a rectangular plan. The most interesting sights include the Royal Palace, built in the sixteenth century, which is a great example of architectural changes following from the Renaissance to classicism. In addition, there is a lot of religious buildings such as the Gothic cathedral. John and Mannerist Jesuit church. In the center of the Castle Square has been placed Column of Sigismund III Vasa, originally built in the seventeenth century, was the first secular monument throughout the city. The Old Town is characterized by numerous, colorful townhouses and statue of Mermaid - a famous symbol of the city. It is worth noting that over 85% of the buildings of the Old Town was destroyed during World War II, and what we see today is their reconstruction. Warsaw's Old Town is surrounded by defensive walls whose oldest part was founded in the thirteenth century. In 1980 the Old Town was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.