The construction of the dockyards was done in several stages, spanning over four centuries: From the beginning, the aim of the shipyard was to build the galleys for the Aragonese Armada.

The arsenal also produced a great deal of material, both sails and cordages for the ships and arms for the men.

Ashlar from the nearby mountain of Montjuïc was used for the construction, with sand from the beach in front of the shipyard, wood from the Baix Ebre and Gavarres, and ropes and tiles from Valencia.

During 19 and 20 July, 1936, shortly after the military coup that triggered the Spanish Civil War had reached Barcelona, the shipyard was the site of a battle between militia of the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT) against a part of the nationalist faction's army.

[6] The closest subway/tube station is Drassanes, which is the Catalan word for shipyard, in the line of the Barcelona Metro network.