Barcelona police seize back 474 priceless artworks left to the city by businessman but held ransom by daughters in Spain

GUARDIA Civil have reclaimed 474 works of art left to the Spanish people by businessman Munoz Ramonet.

Priceless paintings and sculptures, intended for the residents of Barcelona, have been held hostage by his two daughters for the last 29 years. 

The collection was found in various homes in Madrid, Barcelona and Alicante.

It included 376 paintings and drawings, 87 miniatures, four sculptures, four ivories and three tapestries and dates back to the 14th century. 

Munoz left the works to the public in the city of Barcelona in 1991 along with his Muntaner Street estate. 

Recovered were paintings by Fortuny, Eugenio Lucas, Winterhalter and Frederick Morgan.

But lawyer for the Julio Munoz Ramonet Foundation, Marc Molins, says the most important works are still left to find.