SAEDNEWS: Archaeologists Unearth 19th-Century Chocolate Factory Remains in Spain
Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a 19th-century chocolate factory in central Barcelona, offering fresh insights into the city’s industrial boom.
According to Artnet, the ruins emerged during the renovation of a four-story building in downtown Barcelona, prompting a team of city archaeologists to investigate. Their excavation revealed not only the remnants of a Matryoshka-style structure—nested Russian dolls—but also architectural elements dating back roughly 600 years.
The discovery of walls, arches, and doorways indicates that the site originally housed a Gothic mansion from the 14th century. Historical records show that the building once belonged to Barcelona’s charitable institution Pia Almoina.
Further research revealed that in the 15th century, the mansion was converted into an inn called de Santa Pere. In the 16th century, the property’s owner rebuilt the structure, which was later divided into three sections during the 18th century. By the 19th century, one section had been transformed into a chocolate factory, the remains of which were recently unearthed.
During this period, the factory was regarded as one of Barcelona’s premier chocolate producers, distributing its products across the Spanish Empire. A surviving advertisement for the factory was found in an 1824 edition of the newspaper La Vanguardia.
The excavation, carried out in collaboration with the Barcelona City Council and the local archaeology department, also uncovered other artifacts, including large tongs and lead molds used for stamping chocolate.
