Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni has honoured 11 of the city’s long-standing institutions, celebrating their century-plus contributions to the fabric of Barcelona. The formal ceremony took place at the City Hall, within the historic Saló de Cent. It recognised a diverse group of entities, ranging from medieval guilds to 20th-century cultural centres, all for their enduring impact on the city’s identity.
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This marks the fourth edition of these awards, an annual tradition established to acknowledge the legacy of organisations with over 100 years of continuous activity linked to Barcelona. Including this year’s honourees, the city has now officially recognised 151 such institutions, spanning cultural, professional, sporting, and social sectors.
Mayor Collboni, whose recent policy proposals include a tax hike for non-resident property buyers, emphasised the invaluable role these entities play. “You are the past, present, and future of the city,” he stated, as reported by Europa Press. “You are a source of pride for the entire city and for all the citizens who enjoy your activity and work.”
“Barcelona is a city proud of its origins. It has built its future while maintaining the links with its past,” the mayor added.
From Medieval Guilds to Modern Professions
The ceremony celebrated two institutions with roots stretching back to medieval Barcelona. The Gremi de Vidre Pla i Tancaments de Catalunya, the guild for glass and enclosure professionals, traces its origins to 1424. The Col·legi de l’Art Major de la Seda de Barcelona, the historic College of the High Art of Silk, founded in 1533 to oversee the city’s burgeoning silk trade, also received honours.
The ceremony also highlighted Barcelona’s long-standing dedication to science and health. Three key bodies received recognition: the Acadèmia de Ciències Mèdiques i de la Salut de Catalunya i Balears (1872), the Institució Catalana d’Historia Natural (1899), and the Col·legi Oficial de Veterinaris de Barcelona (1900). The latter gained praise for its critical contributions to public health, animal welfare, and food safety in the city for over a century.
Pillars of Education, Sport, and Culture
Barcelona also spotlighted its rich sporting and educational heritage. The Federació Catalana de Futbol, founded in 1900, received an honour as the oldest football federation in Spain. Today, it serves as a social and educational engine, managing over 230,000 licenses and 1,400 clubs across Catalonia.
Two schools also received recognition for their century of service. The Escola Baixeras, which opened in 1922 in the Gothic Quarter, formed part of a visionary municipal plan to dignify public education. In the Eixample district, the Escola Prat (1925) received commendation for its continuous dedication to vocational training and values-based education.
The awards concluded by celebrating several grassroots cultural organisations, which have become cornerstones of their neighbourhoods. These included the Centre Cultural Els Propis (1925), the oldest active entity in the Nou Barris district, championing Catalan culture. Additionally, the Cercle Filatèlic i Numismàtic de Barcelona (1924), a hub for stamp and coin collectors, and the Agrupació Coral Recreativa Les Flors de Maig (1925), a Ciutat Vella choir that began as a workers’ group and has since performed across Europe, also received honours.
