February 24, 2026

By the Bellesguard team

The 68th Barcelona–Sitges International Vintage Car Rally will take place on February 28 and March 1, with a notable new feature: the opportunity to see one of these cars at Torre Bellesguard. For this reason, the poster shows the silhouette of the building, in red, together with La Pedrera in the foreground, and the church of Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla in Sitges in the background.

The choice of buildings by the modernist architect takes on special significance as it coincides with the Gaudí Year 2026. This commemoration also coincides with the designation of Barcelona as World Capital of Architecture 2026 by UNESCO.

As we read on the Rally’s website, the poster “not only announces a new edition, but also asserts its cultural dimension”, establishing “a bridge between architectural heritage and automotive heritage, two expressions of creativity that marked the beginning of the 20th century and that continue to inspire admiration today”. It is also worth noting that the appearance of the car in Spain and Catalonia took place precisely when Gaudí was building these two structures: Bellesguard, between 1900 and 1909, and La Pedrera, between 1906 and 1912. Let us review the chronology:

1881
The first petrol-powered car circulates in Spain. A Panhard Levassor, imported from France. It appeared in the town of Antequera, in Málaga, that is, surprisingly, far from a large urban centre such as Madrid or Barcelona.

1889
Francesc Bonet Dalmau, a businessman from Barcelona, patents the first internal combustion car manufactured in Spain. However, the engine was a Daimler, a German brand.

1900
First registration in Palma de Mallorca, which is why its number was PM-1. It was a Clément, of French origin. In Madrid and Barcelona, no registration took place until 1907.

1903
Foundation of the Royal Automobile Club of Spain.

1904
Foundation of the legendary Hispano Suiza, a major luxury car brand. Its promoters were the Swiss engineer Marc Birkigt and the Catalan businessman Damià Mateu. Gaudí himself, or his collaborator Francesc Berenguer, built a house for this businessman: Torre Mateu, also known as “La Miranda”, located in Llinars del Vallès, the businessman’s hometown. Unfortunately, the building, destroyed in 1962, is still awaiting a detailed study.

1906
Foundation of the Royal Automobile Club of Catalonia (RACC). The organisation had been created as the Automobile Club of Barcelona in 1903, but changed its name to the current one three years later. One of its founders was the painter Ramon Casas, who created several posters for numerous races during that early period.

1907
Perhaps the best image of this period of transformation is a painting by the aforementioned Ramon Casas. It is entitled “The Coach House” and dates from 1907, that is, from the time when Gaudí was finishing Torre Bellesguard and beginning La Pedrera. This painting is, in fact, one of the first works of art in which an automobile appears. It is the car that the painter had brought from Paris, a Delaunay‑Belleville 28 HP. He came to own twelve models.

1912
Gaudí completes La Pedrera. Among its first tenants were Paco Abadal, owner of the automobile brand Abadal y Cía., and Antoni Feliu Prat, one of the first owners to have a motor vehicle in the building. In order for it to enter, Gaudí had to modify the access to the garage, located in the basement. It was a Rolls‑Royce Silver Ghost, the car that appears on the poster being precisely this vehicle.

1914
First car and motorcycle competition in Barcelona, organised by the RACC. The event was called the Tibidabo Cup and therefore took place near Torre Bellesguard.

2026
From February 28 to March 7, all those who visit Antoni Gaudí’s Torre Bellesguard will be able to enjoy an exhibition featuring a 1928 Ford A, along with historical images showing the Guilera family, owners of the estate, and their motor vehicle in 1934.