Swansea, Coastal city in South Wales, United Kingdom
Swansea is a port city in South Wales overlooking the bay, stretching for several kilometers along the coast. The urban area includes residential neighborhoods on the hills inland, a waterfront district with renovated warehouses, and a center with pedestrian zones and shopping arcades.
In the 19th century the city developed into the center of worldwide copper smelting and attracted workers from across Britain. After World War II the heavily bombed city center was completely rebuilt.
Locals gather regularly in the cafés along the marina and on the public squares in the city center, where Welsh language and culture remain visible in everyday life. On weekends the parks by the sea fill with families, while the cultural life in theaters and galleries stays present throughout the year.
The city center is easy to explore on foot, as most shops and attractions lie within the pedestrian zone. The train station sits a few minutes from the center and the seafront promenade is directly accessible via wide walkways.
Along the seafront promenade stands a row of old Victorian bathing huts, now used as small workshops and studios. The area around the harbor was once the neighborhood where Dylan Thomas spent his childhood, before war destruction made most of the buildings disappear.
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