At the 12th Barcelona History Congress (2011), which gave rise to this publication, a series of studies converged on the development of urban historiography. They were largely complementary works that painted a compelling picture of some episodes in its evolution over the centuries: its birth as the municipality’s official discourse in the Late Middle Ages and evolution due to changes in the relationship with the monarchy and the impact of the Counter-Reformation; its use by jurists and politicians from the 18th century onwards in a search for modernising formulas and the mythification of a lost independence; the widespread dissemination of the city’s historical image through literary creation and the publication of urban guides in the 19th century; and, in the mid-20th century, the various signs of so-called barcelonisme, ranging from journalistic activity to official projects to recover municipal power, as well as Agustí Duran i Sanpere’s research and outreach activity at the Historical Archive of the City.