19th-century chocolate factory uncovered in Barcelona construction

In the heart of Barcelona, construction work on a property has unearthed a historic treasure - a 19th-century chocolate factory.

Archaeologists who have been working on the site for nearly a year have unearthed several artifacts related to the chocolate factory, including lead plates used to make the distinctive labels of the chocolates. The plates have also revealed the identity of the factory: Clemente Guardia.

The excavation in Plaça de la Lluna has also revealed a medieval palace from the 14th-century.

"It began as a Gothic palace outside the walls. Later, it was integrated inside the walls as they expanded, and became the Hostal de Sant Pere, and finally it was transformed into a chocolate factory," said the director of the excavation, Marta Lucas. 

"Barcelona has a lot of history since it was founded in the 1st century," Lucas said, adding that the discovery "explains how the city limits have evolved."

The work is part of a project by Barcelona City Council to restore the building and convert it into a social housing facility.

In recent weeks, several archaeological discoveries have been made in Barcelona. Renovation work on the iconic La Rambla boulevard unearthed a 20-meter section of the city's original medieval wall, dating back to the 13th-century.