The prestigious Lo Ferro Flamenco Festival, held in the Murcian town of Torre Pacheco, has announced it will present its highest distinction, the Golden Medal, to the city of San Fernando. This award, to be presented during the festival's 46th edition from July 18th to 26th, underscores the significant contribution of the Cadiz city to the preservation and dissemination of flamenco art.
This recognition comes at a special time for San Fernando, which is currently celebrating the ‘Camarón Year’. The news was officially communicated to the mayor, Patricia Cavada, by a delegation from the festival during their visit to the city's City Hall.
“"This bridge we have built, wonderful, unites two lands. Lo Ferro will present its Golden Medal to San Fernando. There are places where flamenco is not just music, but spaces to feel and to."
Gabriel Maldonado, the festival's director, emphasized the symbolism of this bridge connecting Murcia and Cádiz, uniting two territories deeply rooted in flamenco. José Javier Plaza, Councilor for Culture in Torre Pacheco, justified the award, stating that San Fernando's contribution extends beyond geography or history to encompass human and artistic elements. He highlighted Camarón de la Isla, a native of the city, as one of the most influential figures and revolutionaries of flamenco singing in the 20th century, and acknowledged the role of generations of artists and flamenco clubs that have kept the rhythm and memory alive, solidifying San Fernando as a cornerstone of contemporary flamenco.
The councilor further explained that the medal symbolizes the union of two flamenco territories, Murcia and Cádiz, bound by a shared commitment to preserving and promoting flamenco singing, reaffirming flamenco as a living heritage. Mayor Patricia Cavada expressed her gratitude for the award, which honors not only Camarón and the ‘Camarón Year’ but also the city's contribution to flamenco. She noted that the medal arrives in a special year for San Fernando, marked by many positive events that bring flamenco to the forefront, and conveyed the honor of establishing a regular connection with Torre Pacheco.
The event concluded with a flamenco performance by Carmen Carmona, winner of the Golden Melon in 2025, and Jesús Castilla, the 2024 winner, accompanied on guitar by Antonio Fernández and Niño Manuel.
