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Cultural Questions

This new section of Cultural Correspondence will allow you to answer a monthly question as it pertains to your culture, and then see what others have written! To begin, I will start with my own question, but please feel free to submit a question for future months-- you will be credited on the site if your question is used! Your question can refer to geography, history, the arts, literature, sports...whatever! ---Lisa

Question 1: What do you think is the most interesting building, monument or outdoor sculpture in your country, and why?

To give an example, here is my answer to the question: I think the most interesting monuments in Canada are the totem poles in British Columbia, because they represent the native culture of our country that is so often forgotten. The totem poles are so beautifully carved and painted, and they tell the family lineage of certain klans, as well as family histories. I just think they are so majestic, and I remember being amazed the first time I saw one in a museum as a child.

Totem poles on Vancouver Island, Canada

What's your answer? E-mail it to me at culturalcorrespondence@yahoo.com and attach a photo, if you would like. I will post the responses here as they come. Please make your response about a paragraph in length, and write "Cultural Questions" in the subject line of your e-mail. I reserve the right  not to post responses that I feel are inappropriate!

Responses:

Irene from Spain writes: In my opinion "La Sagrada Familia" (Barcelona) is the most interesting monument in Spain. I've read a quote that matches exactly with what I think "Gaudí was able to create relationships between architecture and poetry, religion, botanics and astronomy. No detail escapes from the Symbolism, of the temple de La Sagrada Familia, everything has a reason, everything transmits". It's probably one of the most unconventional Cathedrals in the world, both the exterior and the interior are breathtaking, it's a bizarre wonder!

Postcard of La Sagrada Familia, created by Gaudi in Barcelona

Marija from Serbia writes: The best monument in the province of Vojvodina (northern part of Serbia) is the building of City Hall in Apatin.

Luiza from Romania writes: I believe that the best there is in Romanian art is Constantin Brancusi's sculptural masterpiece, "The Endless Column", in Targu Jiu. A wonderful philosopher once said that it had more than the breath of a broken wing, it also bore the echo of the very special Romanian grammatical form - the "long infinitive" - thus became an infinite touch of the ineffable...

"The Endless Column" by Constantin Brancusi

Sandra from Switzerland writes: I think the Munster Cathedral in Bern, Switzerland, is definitely the most interesting building.  It's the largest ecclesiastical building in Switzerland. The construction was begun in 1421 and for generations thereafter architects worked on this masterpiece, following late-Gothic traditions and architectural styles. The spire (pictured left) was completed only in 1893. The Last Judgement in the main portal  (pictured below) is a masterpiece, but the highlight in the truest sense of the word is 344 steps above the entrance: the 100 meter-high spire, from where you can enjoy an excellent view of the city, the Bernese Mittelland and the snow-capped peaks of the BerneseOberland.