19th-century chocolate factory discovered in Barcelona
The remains of a 19th-century chocolate factory have been unearthed in Barcelona, Spain. The workshop, located within a medieval mansion, was once used to produce chocolate and sweets.
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The structure, discovered during construction at a site in Barcelona, is linked to the Catalan chocolate company Clemente Guardia.
According to a statement from the Barcelona Archaeology Service, the workshop once produced sweets for both local residents and tourists.
The chocolatier was one of the wealthy figures of Barcelona who sold their products across the territories of the Spanish Empire.
IT WAS A MEDIEVAL MANSION
However, the structure in question has a history that extends far beyond the workshop: it was originally a medieval mansion dating back to the 14th century. Archaeologists have carefully documented the walls, arches, and doorways dating to this period.
According to the report in Arkeofili, the mansion was later operated as a guesthouse known as Hostal de Sant Pere between the 15th and 16th centuries.
DIVIDED INTO THREE PROPERTIES
Eventually, in the early 18th century, it was divided into three properties; archaeologists believe that seven large ceramic vessels found in the area belong to this period, though their contents have not yet been determined.