Barcelona awards its Gold Medal of the City to Lluís Permanyer

Barcelona City Council posthumously awards the Gold Medal of the City to chronicler Lluís Permanyer and presents the Gold Medal for Civic Merit to three other individuals.

The Barcelona City Council has awarded the Gold Medal of the City posthumously to Lluís Permanyer for his connection to the Catalan capital as a chronicler. The distinction highlights his work and legacy in understanding the evolution of contemporary Barcelona.

Permanyer, born in Barcelona in 1939 and passed away in 2025, wrote over eighty books about the city. He worked in media such as Destino and La Vanguardia and also dedicated himself to the publishing sector. His work earned him the National Journalism Award of Catalonia, the Luca de Tena Award, and the City of Barcelona Journalism Award.

In the same resolution, the council grants the Gold Medal for Civic Merit to Jesús María Sánchez, Pilar Malla, and Ramon Agenjo. The three recognitions come for very different trajectories that, according to the City Council, have contributed to the life of the city.

Jesús María Sánchez, born in Barcelona in 1956, is a lawyer specialised in civil, financial, and consumer law. He was the dean of the Illustrious College of Lawyers of Barcelona (ICAB) and is recognised for promoting the law on multiple reoffending and advocating for more judges, prosecutors, and officials for the city. His merit, according to the distinction, is reinforcing Barcelona's prestige as a legal capital.

Pilar Malla, born in El Pont d'Armentera in 1931, is a teacher and social worker. She was the first ombudswoman of grievances in Barcelona, director of Càritas Diocesana de Barcelona, a member of the Parliament of Catalonia, and head of the Social Services of the Generalitat. The recognition highlights her commitment to social rights and the fight against inequalities.

Ramon Agenjo, born in Barcelona in 1957, is linked to the Grupo Damm. He was president of Barcelona Global and has held positions at the Palau de la Música Catalana, the Conservatori del Liceu, the MACBA Foundation, and the Princess of Girona Foundation. He is recognised for his role in the international projection of the city and its cultural, gastronomic, and sporting promotion.