In 1753 the Barceloneta quarter was built in a sandy triangular area outside the city walls. This area was created for the inhabitants from La Ribera quarter who had been displaced by the construction of the military citadel. The project was commissioned by Juan Martín Cermeño, a military engineer who conceived a regular grid of straight streets with long and narrow blocks of houses, still preserved today. These would be identical single-family dwellings with a ground floor and one storey. Soon after the beginning of the works, the Sant Miquel church was built.
The Barceloneta was, from its creation, a maritime neighbourhood, inhabited by seamen, fishermen and craftsmen related to seafaring activities. During the 19th century, important metallurgical companies were located in the area, for instance companies repairing and constructing naval engines and boats. The quarter also became one of the leisure areas of the city.
