Roman amphitheatre of Caerleon

The Roman amphitheatre of Caerleon is an oval structure sunk into the ground and surrounded by raised earth banks that once formed seating rows. The arena floor sits deep below, with passages and entrances still visible that show how crowds once moved in and out of the space.

The amphitheatre was built around 90 AD as entertainment for the Second Legion Augusta stationed at the fortress of Isca Augusta. Over the following centuries, the structure fell into decay, but was partially preserved by nature itself as soil accumulated over its remains.

The place name itself comes from Welsh roots meaning "Fortress of the Legion", linking the landscape directly to its Roman past. Visitors walking here today get a sense of how soldiers and local people gathered to watch gladiator fights and entertainment in a shared space.

The site sits next to the museum and is easily reached; access to the amphitheatre itself is straightforward since visitors can walk up and down the earth banks. A viewing area at the top edge allows you to see the entire arena from above.

Excavations in the 1960s revealed square pits in the ground that supported wooden beams, showing that a timber framework once held many thousands of spectators. These hidden foundational clues have made it possible to understand just how substantial the original construction was.