A journey through the world of cars and carriages

TarragonaTwo Wild West wagons, a Finnish sleigh over two centuries old that can be pulled by a reindeer or a horse, the carriage in which General Prim's mother traveled from Reus to the Vila-seca farmhouse, and a cart carrying 72 cases of Chartreuse bottles in their original packaging, ready to be opened. These are just some of the more than one hundred animal-drawn vehicles that make up the collection of carts, carriages, and wagons that Jordi Rovira Fortuny, from Torrent, has assembled over half a century of research and countless hours of restoration work. Rovira is certain that, with over one hundred vehicles, his is the leading collection of carts in Catalonia, and in the entire country, only a handful can be counted on one hand that can compare in some aspects. Most of the cars he collects are on display in a warehouse in the Francolí industrial park, and this November and the first week of December, they can be visited thanks to the Tarragona Cancer Association. The cost is 5 euros per person, and all proceeds will go to the association, which supports projects focused on support, research, and prevention in the fight against cancer. Those interested should send an email to tarragona@contraelcancer.es indicating the day, time, and number of people in their group, and an attempt will be made to arrange the groups.

Tribute to the brother

The exhibition features a fire truck, a clear reference to the collector's brother, who died of cancer at the age of 44. He was a firefighter in Tarragona. The exhibition is dedicated to him, and throughout this month, Rovira is guiding all the groups that visit: "It makes me very happy." Rovira not only has a large collection of carts and carriages, but he also knows this world well and is eager to share it with his visitors.

The section dedicated to the world of wine is very comprehensive and, in addition to the carts that performed the various tasks related to this vital sector of production for the country, it includes tools and is complemented by tools and different machines such as presses, sprayers, vine pullers, and barrels. The technological evolution in the world of wine can be seen, as in the case of the sprayers used in wooden and later bronze tanks, the first of which were manufactured in the Basque Country. There are also two carts—one for rags and another for selling bulk wine or glasses in the cities—from the post-war period that incorporated rubber tires on their wooden wheels, since Franco banned iron wheels because they damaged the pavement. One of the most impressive carts is a large muleteer's cart, which had to be pulled by four horses. In the 1960s, carts disappeared from everyday life in rural areas. This had already happened in the cities.

Straight out of a movie

The evolution of animal power in the combustion engine can be seen with a hearse and the Mercedes that replaced it, or a German tractor from the World War II era that made animal-drawn plows obsolete. Two pieces that always generate a lot of excitement are two wagons from the Wild West, the kind used in the migration to the newly conquered lands of the Native Americans. Rovira acquired them on a trip to New York. He also has a replica of the wagon that Clark Gable drove in the film. Gone with the Wind

In the exhibition we found French, English, German, and one Dutch carriage. The latter appeared in the film. Gold Rush And Rovira himself appeared as a coachman. There are also carriages that appeared in the feature film by Catalan filmmaker Antoni Ribas. Land of canyonsWe found typical Catalan and Balearic carts, as well as carriages with a rich history from all over Spain. Some pieces, due to their luxurious appearance, reflect the social standing and purchasing power of their original owners. Rovira laments the lack of support from public administrations for purchasing and restoring carts. He promises to display more pieces that currently don't fit in the warehouse when he has more space. Although he hasn't lost hope, he considers it very unlikely that this collection will one day become a museum that can showcase all the vehicles it comprises. The collector from Torrenco has organized the Tres Tombs de Tarragona festival for four years, and for 28 years we could see Jordi Rovira or one of his sons driving the Home dels Nassos (Man of Big Nose) in one of his carts. And how did it all begin?

One person has profoundly influenced Jordi Rovira's life, and his death in 1975 marked the beginning of his collection of carts and carriages. This was Joan Fortuny Mercadé, better known as Joanet or Joanet Sereno, who, in addition to being a farmer his entire life, served as the night watchman of Torredembarra for twenty years. During the Spanish Civil War, his wife and daughter died, and one of his sons was killed by shrapnel a year later. His only remaining son died of tuberculosis at the age of 25. On Muralla Street, in the heart of Torredembarra's old town, stands Joanet's house-museum, with the rooms preserved as they were half a century ago and his cart at the entrance.

The relationship between Joanet and Jordi Rovira was very close for over twenty years. In fact, he became his godson and instilled in him a love for the land, a love he has never abandoned. "We used to go with other children in the car to his farm, and he also established a relationship with my parents. He asked them if I could come live with him, and they said yes. He raised me with certain values. And in gratitude for everything he did, I dedicate this collection to him," Rovira recalls.