Utrera experienced on Wednesday, April 8th, International Day of the Gypsy PeopleOne of those days that will remain in the collective memory. Utrera City Hall handed over the Gold Medal of the City al Gypsy community of Utrera at an event held in Enrique de la Cuadra Municipal Theatre, which brought together institutional representatives, groups and citizens around this recognition.
The ceremony was attended by the mayor of Utrera, Francisco Jimenez, together with the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Sport of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Patricia of the Well, the territorial delegate Carmen Laynez, and the Government Delegate of the Junta in Seville, Ricardo Sanchez, in addition to other institutional representatives who filled the Municipal Theater.
The City Clerk, Juan Borrego, was responsible for reading the minutes of the Plenary Session held on February 26, 2026, in which the Municipal Corporation unanimously approved the granting of this distinction, designating as its depository the Brotherhood of the Gypsies of Utrera.
One of the most significant moments was the intervention of the brotherhood's senior member, José Jiménezwho spoke on behalf of the Roma people. In his speech, he recalled that the history of his people is that of a community that has overcome persecution and hardship throughout the centuries. In the case of Utrera, he emphasized, “that history translates into an example of true integration, coexistence, and shared belonging. Here, we are all one and the same: Utreranos.”
For her part, Councillor Patricia Pozo highlighted the symbolic value of the event, held on a particularly significant date, and noted "the importance of the contributions and unique characteristics of the Roma people to Andalusia as a whole, enriching a society and culture that are undoubtedly better because of it."
"The Gypsy influence is an inseparable part of our identity, without which the people of Utrera would not be who we are today, because Utrera recognizes itself in the union of these two inseparable realities" (Francisco Jiménez)
During his speech, the mayor recalled the series of activities and initiatives promoted by the City Council to commemorate the 600th anniversary of the arrival of the Roma people in Spainhighlighting that the origin of this programming stemmed from the initiative of the Brotherhood of the Gypsies and the association The Compass That Unites Us.
Jiménez spoke of the intermingling of non-Roma and Roma people, a reality evident in Utrera throughout the years and in all areas of society: economic, social, religious, and cultural. “This heritage is a living thing that can be seen in the streets, in the way we interact, in our language, in surnames that demonstrate this complete blend of both cultures, and, of course, in the flamencoIn this sense, he stated that Utrera is what it is, in this area precisely, because of the Gypsy artists who have traveled the world carrying the name of the city with them.
He concluded by emphasizing that the Gypsy influence "is an inseparable part of our identity, without which the people of Utrera would not be who we are today, because Utrera recognizes itself in the union of these two inseparable realities."
The president of the Andalusian Regional Government, who had expressed interest in attending the event but was ultimately unable to due to scheduling conflicts, sent a video message that was shown in the theater, in which he Juanma Moreno He pointed out that with this distinction, "Utrera officially recognizes the historical contribution of the Gypsy people to the city, because the wealth of a people lies in knowing how to recognize, value and feel proud of their roots."
The event featured performances by Mari Peña y Manuela del Moya, accompanied on guitar by Alejandro Fernandez.
Gypsy Village Tile
Furthermore, the Utrera City Council, through its Department of Culture, and on the occasion of the activities that have been carried out during the last year in commemoration of the 600th anniversary of the arrival of the Roma people in Spain, has placed a new tile in El Muro Park.
This commemorative element is dedicated to the Gypsy People of Utrera, thus joining the initiatives promoted by the council to recognize and emphasize the historical, cultural and social footprint of the gypsy community in the town.
The tile reproduces the gypsy flag from a naturalistic perspective, an artistic interpretation depicting the real sky, with its clouds, over a meadow, and in the center the characteristic wheel.
The work was created by the local ceramist. Joaquín García Anaya, also the author of the tiles previously installed in this space, dedicated to The Spoon and Fernando Fernández Jiménez, popularly known as “The Star”.
The delegate for Culture, Maria Jose Garcia ArroyoShe noted that this location will become a gallery of figures, groups, and historical moments in the city, “and without a doubt, the Roma people had to be represented because of everything they have contributed to Utrera’s identity.” Furthermore, the delegate emphasized that “this installation permanently marks the connection and importance of the Roma people to Utrera.”
