From Reviled to Revered

International icons such as the Eiffel Tower and the Washington Monument were often regarded as eyesores by contemporaries

Once hated, now loved. Many of the world's most admired buildings and monuments were greeted with dismay or even outrage when first built. The iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris and the deeply moving Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., both were once heaped with scorn. Now they're must-see destinations on any tourist itinerary.

With the patience of a monument, these structures have made the transition from unconscionable to iconic. Click on to see some of the world's most revered buildings, all of which, believe it or not, were once reviled.

by Matt Vella