Curia Julia, Ancient Roman Senate house in Roman Forum, Italy
The Curia Julia is a brick structure in the Roman Forum where the senate convened. The facade shows heavy corner supports and three broad windows beneath the roofline, while bronze doors mark the entrance.
Julius Caesar began construction in the year 44 before Christ after a fire destroyed the earlier building. Augustus finished the structure fifteen years later, making it the center of Roman government.
The senate chamber served as the place where senators gathered wearing togas to debate and make decisions about Roman governance. Its position at the northwest edge of the forum reflects how political life unfolded near the heart of public activity.
Visitors can observe the replica bronze doors at the entrance, while the originals are now kept at the Lateran Basilica. The interior shows tiered seating areas along the walls, making the layout of the chamber visible.
The floor still consists of the original opus sectile pattern, a puzzle of colored marble pieces forming geometric shapes. This technique was more expensive and labor-intensive than ordinary mosaic work and shows the importance of the space.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
