6Barcelona, Spain: Gaudí’s Modernist Masterpieces
In the early 20th century, Antoni Gaudí, the renowned Catalan architect, brought mosaics into the modern era with his innovative use of broken tile pieces, a technique known as trencadís. Gaudí’s works, especially those in Barcelona, are characterized by their organic forms, vibrant colors, and integration of nature into architecture.
Park Güell, one of Gaudí’s most famous creations, is a mosaic wonderland. The park’s iconic serpentine bench, covered in a dazzling array of colorful tiles, is a striking example of how Gaudí used mosaics to blend art with functionality. Another masterpiece is the façade of Casa Batlló, often called the “House of Bones,” where Gaudí used mosaics to create a shimmering, scaled effect that mimics the surface of the sea. Gaudí’s mosaics have had a lasting influence on modernist art and architecture, making Barcelona a global center for mosaic lovers.
