Buzz
While travelers from around the globe flock to admire iconic monuments, some locals might prefer to distance themselves from these structures. What visitors perceive as architectural marvels, residents often view as eyesores or painful reminders of their past.
Below are ten landmarks that were initially met with disdain by locals. Frequently, the disdain stems from these structures being considered unsightly. In certain instances, they were also criticized for their exorbitant costs.
10. The Shard London, England
The Shard, previously known as London Bridge Tower, is the UK's tallest building, soaring to an impressive 310 meters (1,016 ft) with 72 floors and an observation deck. Although it has become a prominent symbol of London since its completion in 2009, it wasn’t always embraced by the public.
Designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, the building drew inspiration from nearby railway lines and the masts of sailing ships. Despite its creative origins, it faced significant backlash even before construction began, with English Heritage famously comparing it to 'a spike through the heart of historic London.'
9. The Gate to the East Suzhou, China
The Gate to the East, also known as the Gate of the Orient, holds the title of the world's largest conjoined skyscraper. Completed in 2016, it has earned numerous awards for its innovative use of steel and its status as the tallest gate structure globally. Additionally, it boasts China's deepest private wine cellar and tallest swimming pool.
Despite its achievements, the building has faced considerable criticism. Locals have called it 'humiliating,' with some describing the experience of walking through its arch as 'being forced to crawl between someone else’s legs.' The media has labeled it 'a climactic icon of 21st-century architectural spectacle.'
8. The Eiffel Tower Paris, France
The Eiffel Tower, a global symbol of elegance and romance, is now beloved worldwide. However, it wasn’t always embraced by Parisians. Built as the entrance arch for the 1889 World’s Fair, it commemorated the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.
Despite its current fame, the steel structure initially clashed with Paris’s traditional architecture. Prominent artists and intellectuals of the time openly criticized it, declaring, 'We, writers, painters, sculptors, and architects, devoted admirers of Paris’s untouched beauty, vehemently protest against the erection of this useless and monstrous Eiffel Tower in the heart of our capital, which threatens French art and history.'
Despite the initial backlash and calls for its demolition, the Eiffel Tower has become a universal emblem of love and romance.
7. Vittorio Emanuele II Monument Rome, Italy
The Vittorio Emanuele II Monument in Rome was constructed starting in 1885 to honor Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy. Situated between Piazza Venezia and Capitoline Hill, this imposing structure is primarily crafted from white marble.
Despite its grandeur and lavish design, the monument faced criticism from locals who disapproved of its architecture. They coined unflattering nicknames like 'false teeth,' 'wedding cake,' and 'the typewriter.' Many also argued that the marble used was the wrong shade and that the structure was excessively large.
6. Sagrada Familia Barcelona, Spain
The Sagrada Familia, an unfinished Roman Catholic church, stands as Spain’s most iconic structure. Construction began in 1882, with completion projected for 2026. Designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi, who also created Park Guell and Casa Mila, the church has faced significant opposition, with some advocating for its demolition.
Pablo Picasso famously wished that those behind its design would be 'sent to Hell,' while George Orwell described it as 'one of the most hideous buildings in the world.'
5. Empire State Building New York City, US
The Empire State Building is now an inseparable part of New York City, offering stunning views of the skyline to both residents and visitors. However, when it was first built, the 102-story skyscraper faced criticism from locals who saw it as a financial misstep and inconveniently located away from public transportation.
Completed ahead of schedule and $19 million under budget, the building opened on May 1, 1931. Unfortunately, its debut coincided with the Great Depression, leaving only 23 percent of its office space occupied in the first year, earning it the nickname 'Empty State Building.' Its fortunes changed when new owners renovated and promoted it as the world’s tallest building. It was later recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the greatest engineering feats in US history.
4. Centre Pompidou Paris, France
The Centre Pompidou, completed in 1977, houses Europe’s first modern and contemporary art collection. Its unconventional design, resembling a building under construction, has made it a polarizing landmark among locals.
The building’s exposed exoskeleton clashes with Paris’s historic surroundings, including the city’s oldest house, built in 1407. Designed by English architect Richard Rodgers and Italian Renzo Piano, the structure has sparked strong reactions. Rodgers once recounted how a Parisian woman was so angered by the design that she struck him with her umbrella.building
3. Christ The King Statue Swiebodzin, Poland
The Christ the King statue, towering at 33 meters (108 ft), is the tallest statue of Jesus globally, rivaling Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer. Funded by locals and neighboring towns with $1.4 million, it has become one of Poland’s most debated landmarks.
The statue’s construction sparked disputes between Christians and atheists. Critics also questioned its placement near the German border by the Berlin-Warsaw motorway, close to a large supermarket. A recent controversy involves the installation of antennas in Jesus’s crown to provide an Internet signal for Divine Mercy Parish.
2. Palace of Parliament Bucharest, Romania
The Palace of Parliament in Bucharest, despite its stunning golden glow at night and status as the city’s top tourist attraction, is deeply resented by locals. Built for Nicolae Ceausescu, a communist dictator, the opulent structure symbolizes a dark era of extreme poverty. While families struggled to feed their children, Ceausescu funneled the nation’s wealth into constructing his lavish palace, forcing many to surrender their children to state care.
Even after the fall of Romania’s communist regime in 1989, the palace remains a painful reminder of the country’s past. Its extravagant design continues to evoke strong emotions among residents who see it as a symbol of oppression and excess.
1. Valley of the Fallen Madrid, Spain
The Valley of the Fallen, a monument honoring those who died in Spain’s 1936–1939 civil war, is also the burial site of General Francisco Franco, a dictator accused of forcing political prisoners to build it. While Franco claimed to reduce sentences for volunteers, allegations suggest he enforced labor. Catalan politician Jaume Basch likened it to 'a Nazi Concentration Camp' in 2017. The site houses 40,000 bodies, but only Franco and Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera are buried in the church.
After a 1999 bombing by anti-fascists, security was heightened. Though visitors once paid €9 to either honor or desecrate Franco’s grave, both acts are now prohibited. The monument, marked by a towering granite cross visible from the A-6 motorway, remains one of Spain’s most controversial landmarks.
