The Casa de Madrid in Barcelona has honored the top representatives of both cities with its golden insignia. The award was presented this Saturday to Madrid's deputy mayor, Inma Sanz, and the councilor for the Centro district, Carlos Segura, who shared it with María Eugenia Gay, deputy mayor of Barcelona, and Albert Batlle, deputy mayor and councilor for Security of the Catalan capital. The distinction recognizes the "top representatives of these two cities, of origin and welcome."

Inma Sanz described the award as "an honor" and highlighted the work of the Casa de Madrid in Barcelona, an institution with 75 years of history dedicated to promoting and disseminating Madrid's popular culture in Catalonia, as reported by the City Council in an official statement.

The Madrid deputy mayor acknowledged the "certain historical competition" between Madrid and Barcelona, but emphasized the prevalence of "fluid contact in economic, social, and cultural spheres." Sanz argued that "if the past unites, the future will unite even more," advocating for collaboration between the two metropolises.

The event also included the presentation of the 'MariBlanca' award to Alan Pace, president of Real Club Deportivo Español, in commemoration of the club's 125 years of history.

Following the bestowal of the insignia and the award presentation, the honorees enjoyed the traditional Madrid stew lunch, a celebration that the Casa de Madrid in Barcelona has organized uninterruptedly since 1969.

With this ceremony, the association concluded the celebrations for the San Isidro Festivities, the patron saint of Madrid, in the Catalan capital.