Cardiff

Cardiff, which has been Wale's capital city since 1956, was once the coal exporting capital of the world. Although the city's history is long--it was settled by the Romans and used by the Normans as a strategic fortress--it wasn't until the Industrial Revolution and the arrival of the railroad in the 19th century tha the city suddenly began to expand. The history of Cardiff Castle spans almost 2,000 years and traces of the Romans, Normans and Plantagenets can all be clearly seen in the buildings today.