Today Caerleon is an attractive small historic village with a good selection of pubs, restaurants, and craft shops,but around A.D. 75 it was called Isca, and was the base of the 2nd Augustan legion.

The 5,500- strong legion established a 50 acre fort and the remains of the barrack blocks are the only examples currently visible in all of Europe.

It is now one of the most important sites of the Roman occupation in Britain.

There are remains of the barracks, fortress walls, baths, and the amphitheatre.

The amphitheatre held 6,000 spectators and was the scene of bloodthirsty entertainment involving wild beasts and gladiators.