The Magic of Wales

by Eduardo Rivera Jaramillo
(México D.F.)

Wales is an inspirational, culturally rich nation which shares the island of Great Britain with Scotland and England.

The country of Wales has the highest concentration of medieval castles and ancient monuments in the world, including the U.K.'s first stone built castle at Chepstow. Some of the most magnificent castles in Britain -- notably Caernarfon, Conwy, Pembroke, Harlech, and Kidwelly -- were strategically constructed overlooking Welsh coasts and are therefore set in spectacular land and seascapes.

Wales is a land of witchcraft and dragons, with a legacy of colorful mythology and renowned supernatural mystery. Welsh culture and identity have been characterized down the centuries by Celtic myth, legend, and fantasy. Wales is the accepted birthplace of Merlin (the legendary magician to King Arthur) and many scholars agree that the ancient Celtic King held his round table in Wales.

He existed during the era historically associated with Welsh folklore, which describes a lost magical kingdom when sleeping dragons, trolls, Kings, knights, and chivalry co-existed. Caerleon, one of the Welsh towns associated with King Arthur's court, was in earlier times a very significant Roman garrison, and includes remains from the largest Roman amphitheatre outside Italy.

The people of Wales are by nature passionate, expressive, and creative -- famous for singing, acting, storytelling, politics, and poetry. Wales is renowned as "the Land of Song" and is particularly famous for the finest massed choirs. Wales has also given birth to vocalists Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, and Charlotte Church. Highly acclaimed Welsh screen actors with the calibre of Anthony Hopkins, Richard Burton, Ray Milland, and Catherine Zeta Jones are justly world famous.