Wales Millennium Centre

Wales Millennium Centre Review

Cardiff is coming into its own as a capital city, and now it has the cultural center to match. Inviting

comparisons to Bilbao's Guggenheim, the center (known locally as "The Armadillo" for its coppery, shingled exterior) is an extraordinary building, inside and out. The materials used in the construction of this arts complex, completed in 2009, are intended to represent "Welshness." (Slate is for the rocky coastline, for example, while wood is for its ancient forests.) The massive words carved into the curving facade read "In These Stones Horizons Sing" in English and Welsh. Inside there's a maritime feel, from the curving wooden stairs to balconies evoking the bow of a ship. A broad range of cultural programs take place on the various stages, from ballet and opera to break dancing presentations. Guided tours (£5.50) depart about every hour.