The mayoress defended the value of the past as an engine to achieve a more tolerant society during the presentation of the city's Gold Medals to the 19 historical re-enactment groups of the Arde Lucus.

The president praised the invaluable contribution of these associations in achieving the distinction of Festival of International Tourist Interest and their work to promote the image of Lugo and its cultural independence in the world.

The representatives of the Roman and castrexas entities thanked the award and said that all their work aims to excite the public and visitors to participate in this celebration. 

The mayoress, Lara Méndez, highlighted on 30 November at the gala presentation of the city's Gold Medals to the 19 historical re-enactment groups of the Arde Lvcvs the value of Lugo's cultural past as an engine to achieve a more tolerant society. "Nun momento social onde o diverso, o diferente, o mesturado, é visto de novo com desaprobación por parte daqueles que alimentan a intolerancia, é máis necesario que nunca amosar ao mundo que somos a suma daqueles que nos precedieron, no a súa división", sinalou a rexedora.

Méndez emphasised during her speech that the cultural mestura that the arrival of Rome brought with it led to what today is an identity tree that characterises us as a community. "May the legacy that Arde Lucus commemorates inspire us to build a future where solidarity, justice and tolerance are the cornerstones of our society. Where working together wins over confrontation. Because Lugo is the maximum expression, due to our common Roman-Castrex past, that a society can grow in peace and harmony despite its differences, as these do not subtract, but enrich us", she continued.

In her speech, the president praised the invaluable contribution of these associations in achieving the distinction of Festival of International Tourist Interest and their work to promote the image of Lugo and its cultural identity in the world. "Thanks to this determination, today we can say with great satisfaction that the Arde Lvcvs is, in addition to an internationally recognised cultural expression, an important driving force for the city of Lugo, an important dynamising agent of our economy in continuous growth" said the mayoress in a speech full of recognition for all the people involved over the last two decades in the organisation and dynamisation of the Arde Lvcvs, from the hostelry sector, through the educational community, to the groups in the cultural sphere.

"You are, with your commitment, an example for the world and an immense pride for all of us. With every gesture, with every detail of your recreations, you open a huge festival to the past that goes beyond the simple historical representation", said the president in relation to the involvement of these entities throughout the year to prepare this event that today can boast of involving an entire city.

Finally, Méndez appealed to the need to give continuity to the successes achieved so that the Arde Lucus continues to increase its recognition. "Let's continue celebrating our history together, building bridges between the past and the present, and making sure that future generations also merge in the legacy that we are so proud of.

For their part, the representatives of the award winners, José Manuel Álvarez-Yáñez Pena, in the name of the castrexos villages, and Manuel Buján López, in the name of the Roman world, thanked the City Council of Lugo for the delivery of its highest award. "Undoubtedly a distinction that we collect with pride and we will wear with honour in our travels around the rest of Galicia, Spain and Europe", they indicated at the same time that they recalled that their work aims to get the public and visitors to participate in this celebration. "We must, between all, promote the citizenship to participate in the party on the street, to share their experiences and, together, give the necessary publicity to the city of Lugo and its people. Lugo has a lot to see and teach and we have to make it visible to all the people of Lugo", they pointed out.

The award-winning entities, which bring together over a thousand members, were: Ara Roma; Asamblearias Lucus Augusti; Caetra Lucensium; Civitas Lucensis; Clan de Breogán; Cohors III Lucensium; Guardia Pretoriana - Cohors Lvcensium Praetoria; Kertix; Lucus Equites; Lucus Icenas Miliatore; Lugdunum; Galaic Mercenaries; Pax Romana Lucus; Salesiani Luci Augusti; Senatus Lucus Augusti; Terra Copora; Tir Na n'Og; Trebas Galaicas; Vestales Lucus Augusti.