The Diario de Barcelona began publication in the late 18th century and, up until the mid-19th century, became a kind of official newspaper for the city of Barcelona. From the outset, and at the request of the City Council, it included among its sections “public notices of the arrival of ships and their cargoes, diets and other information conducive to trade and industry”, as it was believed that this would promote commerce and industry and facilitate the export and clearance of domestic manufactures.

During the 19th century, the Diario de Barcelona increasingly aligned itself with conservative positions and fought legal battles to maintain its privileged status as a royal concession, aiming to avoid competition from other printers interested in launching a newspaper in the city. In the mid-19th century, the newspaper experienced a resurgence, focusing on local news and attempting to remain on the sidelines of political struggles. This stance benefited the paper in times of repression, which it managed to avoid due to its conservative ties.

The second half of the 19th century marked its transformation, with the introduction of mechanical and steam-powered printing, the installation of the electric telegraph, and the newspaper’s undisputed dominance of the city’s press market. During this period, the Diario de Barcelona became something of an oracle for the bourgeoisie, which was its main readership and customer base. For this reason, its information is often more valuable than that of some of its competitors, which were republican-leaning and aimed at a more popular audience.

Thanks to its continuity and the thoroughness of its records, the Diario de Barcelona has previously been used by many other researchers. What is new in our approach is the aim to extract all the necessary information automatically. The notices referencing ship arrivals at the port were published daily, making it possible to reconstruct the characteristics of the city’s port traffic in detail.

The digitised version of the newspaper is available in two digital repositories: the Arxiu de Revistes Catalanes Antigues, maintained by the National Library of Catalonia, and the Municipal Newspaper Archive of Barcelona. From 1850 to 1855, a daily edition was published; from April 1855 onwards, two editions; and, starting in 1909, three.

In short, the Diario de Barcelona is an ideal source for studying maritime traffic and trade in the city of Barcelona.