| Cardiff or Caerdydd in Welsh is the capital city of | | | | flats and has been completely refurbished. |
| Wales. The city is situated in the county of Glamorgan | | | | Festivals |
| and used to be a small traditional town until the 19th | | | | Cardiff is the home of the Big Weekend Festival that |
| century when it started to rapidly grow due to the | | | | is held every year in late July or early August. The |
| sudden influx of industry in the area | | | | Festival takes place in the center of the city and it |
| Cardiff or Caerdydd in Welsh is the capital city of | | | | brings together all sorts of theme park events and |
| Wales. The city is situated in the county of Glamorgan | | | | rides. Each year about 2 hundred thousand people |
| and it used to be a small traditional town up until the | | | | come to take part in this event. Another big event in |
| 19th century when it started to rapidly grow due to the | | | | the city is the Cardiff festival, considered to be the |
| sudden influx of industry in the area. At this point in | | | | biggest outdoor festival in the entire country. This |
| time Cardiff became the main port in the region | | | | festival is actually the host of different smaller festivals, |
| exporting coal. In the year 1905 Cardiff officially | | | | such as the Children's Festival. The city also hosts the |
| became a city and exactly 50 years later, in 1955, it | | | | Cardiff Design Festival. |
| was proclaimed the capital of Wales. The port here is | | | | Another thing that should be noted about Cardiff is that |
| known as Tiger Bay and it used to be very busy for a | | | | it was the home of the National Eisteddfod five times |
| long period of time. Today, the port of Cardiff is not so | | | | (1883, 1899, 1938, 1960 and 1978) and it is to be the |
| popular for transport, but is very much appreciated by | | | | host again in 2008. |
| people all over the world as an art, entertainment and | | | | Parks |
| nightlife location. | | | | One of the most beautiful places in Cardiff is the |
| The name of the city comes from the English | | | | green site in the centre of the city known as Bute |
| pronunciation of the Welsh name "Caerdydd". The | | | | Park. This area used to be a part of the castle |
| origin of the name is not known, there being several | | | | grounds and today it has been designed to be a |
| hypotheses. "Caer" is the Welsh word for castle, but | | | | charming place inside the city. The park extends |
| there is no explanation for what "dydd" could be | | | | towards the northern part of the main shopping street |
| standing for. Some people believe that this term was a | | | | in the city, Queen Street. The beautiful garden |
| corruption of the term "Taff", which is the name of the | | | | combines with the Llandaff Fields in the northwest |
| river that crosses the city. In this case, the name | | | | area and together they form a unique place highlighting |
| "Cardiff" would actually mean "the castle on the river | | | | the Taff River. The people who live on this part of the |
| Taff". However, modern researchers have serious | | | | city bear the nickname of Taffy after the river that |
| doubts about this explanation, preferring to concentrate | | | | crosses this region. |
| more on the Latin influence over the term. It is known | | | | There are a few more parks in Cardiff, such as Roath |
| that the Roman Emperor Antonius Didius built a | | | | Park in the north of the city. This amazing park was |
| fortress in Cardiff, thus they believe that it is most likely | | | | actually donated to the community by the third |
| that the name of the city refers to the castle of | | | | Marquess of Bute in 1887. One of the most popular |
| Antonius Didius. Whatever the true origin of the name | | | | tourist attractions in this park is the boating lake. |
| may be, the fact is that a beautiful 2000 year old | | | | Another very colorful park in Cardiff is Victoria Park, |
| Norman castle still exists in Cardiff and it would be a | | | | which was the city's first official park. |
| shame to miss visiting it while in the city. | | | | Music and nightlife |
| One of the most popular city icons is the Cardiff | | | | Cardiff has proven to be one of the most popular |
| professional football team - Cardiff City F.C. There are | | | | places in the UK as far as the wide range of music is |
| also other teams that bring fame to the city, such as | | | | concerned. Some of the most visited and appreciated |
| the Cardiff Blues (the regional rugby team) and the | | | | places in Cardiff include the BBC National Orchestra of |
| Cardiff Devils Ice Hockey team. | | | | Wales and the Welsh National Opera. Many of the |
| Cultural Attractions | | | | leading acts across the country have emerged here. |
| Besides the Norman castle, Cardiff also hosts the | | | | Also, as far as modern music is concerned, many |
| National Assembly for Wales, St. David's Concert Hall | | | | Welsh bands have had their debut on one of Cardiff's |
| (one of the most popular concert venues in Britain due | | | | stages, before becoming well known nationally and |
| to its many productions), the National Museum and | | | | even internationally. |
| many more. One of the most interesting places in | | | | Cardiff is also very popular for its strong nightlife, being |
| Cardiff is Caroline Street, the third oldest street in the | | | | the host of a numerous variety of nightclubs, bars, |
| city. This street is the main link between two of | | | | pubs and clubs. Most of these places can be found in |
| Cardiff's busiest streets. On Caroline Street you can | | | | the city centre and in Cardiff Bay, which has lately |
| find a great variety of stores and shops and recently it | | | | developed quite an impressive night scene. St. Mary |
| seems to have become the home of chip and kebab | | | | Street is also one of the most populated places in |
| eateries! Thus, the street became to be referred as | | | | Cardiff during the night time. The best time here is |
| the Chip Row or the Chip Alley. During the last few | | | | during good weather when the terraces are open and |
| years the street became populated with new luxuriant | | | | the street seems to have a life of its own. |