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Autumn 2003 xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
ITS PARTY TIME IN CARDIFF, EUROPES YOUNGEST CAPITAL
Cardiff is celebrating its centenary as a city and its 50th year as Wales capital in 2005. The city is already buzzing in anticipation of the celebrations so now is the time to pay a visit to Europes youngest capital.
The Welsh capital has undergone enormous regeneration over the past decade or so. Its traditional attractions a fairy-tale castle in the middle of the city, a fine museum housing one of the best Impressionist collections in Europe outside Paris and the world-renowned Museum of Welsh Life are now complemented by a stunning waterfront development in Cardiff Bay and world-class venues such as the awesome Wales Millennium Centre and the iconic Millennium Stadium, the biggest under-cover stadium in Europe. Testimony to Cardiffs growing reputation is that it is now a designated Centre of Culture, an accolade received for being shortlisted for the title of European Capital of Culture 2008.
Cardiff has a thriving calendar of events and is by now established as a leading venue for a whole range of arts, music and sporting activities. Just some of those drawing in the crowds are:
· The hugely successful Cardiff Festival which has been running for the past 22 summers and has been called the biggest all-city bash this side of Edinburgh. It incorporates a whole range of events, from the International Food and Drink Festival, the Welsh Proms and the multi-cultural MAS Carnival through to the Formula 3 Powerboat Grand Prix and the Worldport Festival (jazz, roots and world music). In addition, every summer sees the citys streets and the Bay filled with street performers, acrobats and musicians.
· The Wales Rally GB, a must-see for motor sports enthusiasts from all over the world
· The F A Cup final, Britains foremost football fixture. Cardiffs Millennium Stadium is home for this event during Wembleys revamp
· The Six Nations Rugby Internationals a firm Cardiff favourite
· Pop concerts Cardiff is an essential stop-off for all divas and supergroups by now
· The Gay Mardi Gras, which is the fastest growing event of its kind in Britain
· BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, the Oscars of song, which takes place here biennially (next in 2005)
· The International Festival of Musical Theatre (biennial), a wonderful celebration of the musical genre, which kicked off in 2002
· Winter Wonderland, a Christmas-shopping and ice-skating experience (a vast ice rink is built outside the citys beautiful Portland stone City Hall) kicked off two years ago and provides a sensational season-long Christmas party for locals and visitors
The citys hotel provision is as wide and interesting as ever, from lovely Victorian B&Bs in tree-lined avenues to glorious Five-star luxury. The city centre is also very compact and shopping here is a pleasure. All the major stores can be found here, along with some excellent home-grown department stores stocking the latest designer kit, but the particular gems are the citys Edwardian and Victorian shopping arcades, which house fabulous quirky independent shops.
Great news for Cardiff was the advent last year of a whole host of low-cost flights into the city from across Europe by bmibaby getting to and from Cardiff has never been easier, quicker or more reasonably priced.
Further information: Please contact Lowri ap Robert at the Cardiff Initiative on 44 29 20347800 or
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