Barcelona’s UNESCO-listed Casa Batllo, a modernist architectural masterpiece by Sagrada Familia designer Antoni Gaudi, unveiled a multimillion-euro restoration Thursday that brings its rear facade and courtyard back to life. Previous refurbishments, changes of owner and the turbulent period marked by Spain’s 1936-1939 civil war had taken their toll on the unique building completed in 1906. A team of architects, historians and artisans spent more than a year repairing the bright mosaics and restoring the original cream-colored hue to the blackened curvy balcony bars.

The result is “the most similar to 1906 that we have been able to achieve with today’s technology”, Xavier Villanueva, the chief architect and official in charge of the works, told AFP. In the courtyard, the pergola replicates a parabola shape and more than 85,000 pieces make up the paving, “hand made one by one, as it was originally”, Villanueva said.

The painstaking task meant the team “carried out a lot of analyses in several university laboratories, many prospections, we have lots of documentary information”, he said. The restoration cost 3.5 million euros ($4 million), according to Casa Batllo, which is in a fashionable neighborhood of Barcelona frequented by the city’s bourgeoisie and wealthy industrialists in the early 20th century. A UNESCO-listed site since 2005, Casa Batllo welcomed 1.9 million visitors last year, making it one of the most popular attractions in a city known as a global tourism magnet.—AFP

A general view shows tourists walking past the Aqueduct of Segovia, an ancient Roman aqueduct in the Spanish city of Segovia in the Castile and Leon region.

A general view of the choir inside the Cathedral of the Spanish city of Segovia.

A visitor takes a photograph of the newly restored rear courtyard of Casa Batllo during the official opening of the building's back facade, following recent renovation works, in Barcelona.

A visitor poses for a photograph at the newly restored rear courtyard of Casa Batllo during the official opening of the building's back facade, following recent renovation works, in Barcelona.

Visitors look from the rooftop of Casa Batllo, following recent renovation works, in Barcelona.

Visitors admire the interior of Casa Batllo during the official opening of the building's newly restored back facade.

Visitors admire the interior of Casa Batllo.

This picture shows the main facade of Casa Batllo in Barcelona.

A visitor poses for a photograph at the newly restored rear courtyard of Casa Batllo.

This picture shows the main entrance of Casa Batllo in Barcelona.

Visitors walk through the newly restored rear courtyard of Casa Batllo.

This picture shows the newly restored back facade of Casa Batllo.