Newport is situated on the doorstep of some of the most important Roman remains in the country!
Firstly there is Caerleon just a few miles to the north - the name Caerleon literally stands for 'The Fortress of the Legion' in Welsh, and the present day town stands on the archaeological remains of the Roman Legionary Fort of Isca.
It was one of the most important military sites in Britain under the Roman Empire and was the home of the 2nd Augustan Legion, housing 6000 soldiers, horsemen, an amphitheatre, baths, shops and temples.
Today it is the most varied and fascinating Roman site in Britain offering a host of attractions such as the Fortress Baths, The Roman Legionary Museum, the Amphitheatre and the Barracks.
From there you can make your way up the road past the tourist information centre to the excellent Roman Legionary Museum.
A short walk west takes you to the Roman Amphitheatre and Barracks.
about 4 miles N of Newport, Caerleon is best visited by car though there is also an open topped sightseeing bus service operating out of Newport which visits all the main sights in the Newport-Caerleon area. There are very frequent trains and buses from Cardiff to Newport - so why not make a day of it!
Check out my
Caerleon page for further details.
MAPSecondly there is the Roman city of
Venta Silurum in nearby Caerwent (10 miles E) and then there is the display of artifacts discovered at both these sites in the Museum of Newport itself!
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on May 18, 2005
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