Bottom Seven Wonders

These seven nominees are the most dubious selections that Bernhard Weber made for his list.

1. Statue of Liberty, New York, United States
As a piece of public art, the Statue of Liberty is a beautiful, iconic gatekeeper to New York harbor. As a work of engineering, the statue is much less noteworthy. It's nowhere close to the most amazing structure in the United States, it's not the most amazing structure in New York, and heck, it's not even the most amazing structure in New York constructed during the 1880's (that would be the Brooklyn Bridge). Weber's campaign is for the seven world wonders, not the seven world symbols.

2. Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia
Again, this structure is more of a symbol than a wonder. True, the Opera House employs a striking design. Sydney's harbourscape is instantly recognizable thanks to the Opera House. But from an engineering standpoint, it's not that impressive. I guess that in a country with relatively few landmarks, the Opera House stands out. In the world at large, however, there's just too much superior competition.

3. Stonehenge, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
For a landmark that dates back to the Stone Age, Stonehenge is truly impressive. How ancient man managed to stack these monoliths and arrange them in near-perfect alignment with astronomical patterns is one of life's great mysteries. But in this exercise, Stonehenge needs to be evaluated in the company of its younger brethren. By comparison to the likes of some of these other wonders, Stonehenge is a pile of rocks.

4. Cristo Redentor, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The Art Deco statue of Christ Redeeming the World, perched atop the 2300-foot mountain that towers of the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, is a sight to behold. It is especially impressive at night, when the floodlight Christ appears to be hovering over the city. Ninety percent of what makes the statue so impressive, however, is the terrain, which was in place long before man did his work. The statue is only 125 feet tall, and while the location is striking, it's hardly worthy of being considered a wonder.

5. Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey
I don't consider the Hagia Sophia the most impressive structure on its street, let alone one of the top seven in the world. It is certainly massive, but I found the Hagia Sophia just a tiny bit bland from an aesthetic view. It was originally a Byzantine cathedral, but when the Ottoman Empire took over Constantinople, they co-opted it and turned it into a mosque. Inside, you can see where the Ottomans took the paintings of crosses and turned them into Islamic motifs. Evidence of a remarkable intersection of cultures does not justify a world wonder. The Blue Mosque, a quarter-mile away, is a much more stunning structure, with its burgeoning series of domes and six towering minarets, a number exceeded only in Mecca.

6. Neuschwanstein Castle, Fussen, Germany
It may be the picture-perfect central European castle, and it's certainly an impressive structure perched in an impressive location. I don't think it's really head-and-shoulders above other European castles and palaces that didn't make the list, so frankly, I don't see what the big deal is.

7. Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto, Japan
I visited this temple complex when I was in Kyoto. It's a beautiful complex that overlooks Kyoto from the hills to the East of the city. Visiting on a random Wednesday when the place was overcrowded with Japanese pilgrims was a transcendant cultural experience (especially since the weather went from rainy to almost completely sunny in a half-hour span). As I was making my way through the complex however, at no point did it ever occur to me that the temple might be considered a world wonder.