A piece of Welsh slate to be laid at the site of the new Millennium Centre has begun a historic journey from north to south Wales by horse and cart, steam train and boat.

The odyssey, which begins at Blaenau Ffestiniog sees the stone being transported by traditional methods that workers would have used in the golden age of slate.

The steel framework of the Millennium Centre

On arrival in Cardiff, the slate is to be laid in a symbolic ceremony at the new arts centre site on 21 January by opera baritone Bryn Terfel.

The use of the slate in the architecture of the �104.2m arts centre draws on a material intrinsically linked to the land and the people of Wales.

The Millennium Centre will showcase opera, drama, and music, housing seven indigenous production companies and aiming to attract top international performers.

Architect Jonathan Adams' inspiration in the design of the flagship building was the layered rocks at the cliffs of Southerndown, Vale of Glamorgan.

Recovered slate from several quarries around Wales will form the external walls, echoing the cliff strata.

Architectural vision

Reflects layered cliff strata Multi-coloured north Wales slate Top-grade steel for theatre shell protects from elements Bronze oxide exposes to weather, enhances with ageing Letter-shaped windows: "In stones, these horizons sing" Welsh hard woods

Readers comment on building's price tag

The slate that is to be transported to Cardiff is from the Penrhyn quarry in Bethesda, which has been active since the 18th Century and now employs 250 people.

Dafydd Roberts, Keeper of the Welsh Slate Museum describes slate mining as: "One of the iconic Welsh industries.

"It's one of these industries that people outside Wales think of, when they think of Wales and the Welsh.

"There are parts of Wales where slate quarrying formed the character and formed the communities which we see around us," he says.

Adams' architectural vision relies on a number of natural materials.

It incorporates slate, steel and wood - but also boasts a 12cm-thick window around the building's circumference.

The steel framework of the Millennium Centre has grown quickly out of the Cardiff Bay concrete since winning a �37m Welsh Assembly investment in May.

Wales Millennium Centre

Home for:- Academi Diversions Hijinx Touch Trust Ty Cerdd Urdd Gobaith Cymru Welsh National Opera Funding:- �37m - Welsh Assembly �31m - Millennium Commission �10m - Arts Council for Wales �6m - Welsh Development Agency Remainder - other sources

Read about the saga behind the centre

Construction began quickly, when the project was handed to developer Sir Robert McAlpine in February 2002.

The firm expects the building to open its doors - behind which will be a 1,900-seat theatre - in 2004.

Despite concern from some AMs that the project could be a financial albatross, the majority of members voted to sign off a �37m grant on top of money from several public bodies.

The go-ahead gave rise to concerns that the centre could suck up some arts organisations under one roof and marginalise others around Wales.

And programmers have pledged that the Centre will provide inclusive, affordable attractions that will involve the whole nation.

BBC Wales' Grahame Davies will chart the progress of the slate's journey from north Wales in an article beginning on Thursday.