Art Nouveau Modernista Cemetery in Sitges, Spain

Catalonia is a treasure trove of Modernista-style art and architecture. 'Modernista' is a term understandably easily confused with 'Modernist' - and the two overlap in some respects - but the denomination 'Modernista' as it was applied to Art Nouveau art and architecture in Barcelona seems to pre-date the usage of 'Modernism' as applied to reductionist 20th art and architecture in the rest of Europe and the West, inasmuch as it was in widespread usage - even if only in Catalan-language regions of eastern Spain - well before 'Modernism' became a common assignation in the rest of the West. So it is correct to equate the term 'Modernista' with Art Nouveau, which was called by different names in different countries. 

I have ventured far and wide in the study of Art Nouveau - exploring all over Europe, the United States - even as far as Japan - in an attempt to satiate my obsession with the style and ideology of it. I've seen photos of examples of Art Nouveau in Latin America and even in Cairo! So it is from what I would dare say is an educated point of view that I state that Barcelona is the Art Nouveau city! -- This is meant not to be a disloyalty to Nancy, France - which is in some ways the very fount of Art Nouveau. But Barcelona is positively teeming with Modernista buildings and art. 

Aside from Gaudi - whose oeuvre most certainly constitutes one of the pinnacles of Art Nouveau - there are scores and scores of Modernista town houses scattered throughout Barcelona and beyond in places like Sitges, Garraf, and Vilanova i La Geltru. 

One Catalan Art Nouveau jewel is the Modernista cemetery on the beach in Sitges. Although it only has a handful of Art Nouveau tombs, it is considered a Modernista cemetery. Local artists held a Modernista gathering in Sitges early in the 20th century, and there are several buildings in the style around town - including the stunning building at the Center of town - at Cap de la Vila. The enclosed Sitges graveyard sits right above the beach cliffs, and has some beautiful tombs replete with life-sized statuary in the Art Nouveau style. 

It should be noted that Catalan Modernista style can sometimes come off as a bit bland and uniform - aside from Gaudi, of course - this is the natural drawback to such a great quantity of buildings, monuments, and art being produced in the style, which was the fashion of the time.