Sant Adrià de Besòs is the municipality located at the mouth of the Besòs river, between the municipalities of Barcelona, Santa Coloma de Gramenet and Badalona, with which it forms an urban continuity.

The river has always been one of the defining elements of life in Sant Adrià. The fertility of the soil and the abundance of water encouraged agricultural production since the 18th century, making Sant Adrià grow in population and wealth. The city has been popular since the middle of the 19th century as a place of recreation for the people of Barcelona, in the meadows and willows on the banks of the river. There were also meetings of trade union leaders in this area, during the first strikes and lockouts of that period. In the 20th century, industrialisation caused a change in activity that marked the drastic decrease in harvesting the territory as well as the arrival of immigration.

The 21st century is marked by a very diverse population that is reactivating its industrial legacy with a new economy.