The Curia Julia at a glance
The Curia was the meeting hall of the Roman Senate. Caesar had a new Curia laid out, and Augustus completed it in 29 BC. The building you see today is not the unchanged original. It was restored later and used as a church, so treat it as a late phase of a much older senate house.
The plain brick exterior hides a surprising interior. Inside, the floor is laid in opus sectile, a pattern of cut coloured marble. The walls carry marble decoration in colour, and wide steps along the sides mark where senators sat. There were about 300 seats.
The bronze doors at the entrance are copies. The original door was taken to the Lateran in the 17th century. This site is an independent guide and is not run by the Parco archeologico del Colosseo or any other body.
What to know before you look inside
The building has changed more than its plain walls suggest.
| Feature | What it is |
|---|---|
| Builders | Begun under Caesar, completed by Augustus in 29 BC |
| Floor | Opus sectile, cut coloured marble |
| Walls | Coloured marble decoration |
| Senator seats | Steps along the sides, about 300 seats |
| Doors | Bronze copies; the original went to the Lateran in the 17th century |
| Fire | A fire in the 3rd century, dated to 238 or 283 AD |
| Church | Became the church of Sant'Adriano, founded in the 6th century or around 630 |
The years for the fire and the church are uncertain, so read them as a range, not as a fixed date. What is clear is the long reuse: senate house, damage, repair, then church.
Guided tours of the Roman Forum
Small-group walks, guided visits with Colosseum combos and evening options, with live prices and availability. Check whether the Curia interior is part of the visit.
Getting inside the Curia
The interior is not a guaranteed stop on every day.
Which tickets list it
The Curia is on the inclusion list of the Forum Pass SUPER (€18, 2026) and the Full Experience tickets (€24 in 2026). Do not assume the standard combined ticket covers the interior. Check the ticket description before you buy.
Ticket prices and types →No promise of daily access
Being on a ticket list does not mean the doors are open every day. Interior access depends on staffing and the day. If the Curia matters to you, check the current access list at the entrance.
Free first Sunday
On the free first Sunday of the month the Curia is not accessible. That day also excludes other interiors. Free tickets are issued on site, not booked online. If the Curia is your priority, avoid that Sunday.
Free days →Opening hours
The site opens at 9:00. From 1 to 24 October 2026 the last entry is 17:30 and it closes at 18:30. From 25 October 2026 to 28 February 2027 the last entry is 15:30 and it closes at 16:30. Go early in winter.
All seasons →Fitting the Curia into your walk
The Curia sits on the central square of the Forum, so it comes together with the Arch of Septimius Severus and the Temple of Saturn. A suggested order for the whole Forum runs from the entrance at Largo della Salara Vecchia past the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina to the central square, the Curia and the Arch of Septimius Severus, then on to the Temple of Saturn. Closed paths and interior times take priority over any route.
A route with fewer obstacles leads past the House of the Vestals, the Temple of Romulus, the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina and the square to the Curia. The Palatine hill has slopes and uneven ground, so do not expect the whole site to be step-free.
The Forum Pass SUPER also lists the Temple of Romulus and the Museo del Foro Romano, so one ticket can cover several interiors on the same day. If the Curia is open, look at the floor and the stepped seating first. In summer, an early start after 9:00 is a sensible precaution against midday heat. Bring water, because the Forum has no continuous shade.
The Curia is also a useful stop in the history of the Forum. The Senate met here for centuries, and the building shows how Roman monuments were reused. For the larger story, read the history of the Roman Forum. For the Colosseum, which has its own ticket slot, see the Colosseum guide.
Curia Julia: frequently asked questions
What was the Curia Julia?
It was the meeting hall of the Roman Senate. Caesar began a new Curia and Augustus completed it in 29 BC. The building was restored later and used as a church.
Can I go inside the Curia?
The Curia is on the inclusion list of the Forum Pass SUPER and the Full Experience tickets. Whether the interior is open on your day can change, and it is closed on the free first Sunday of the month. Check at the entrance.
Is the Curia the original senate house?
No. The present building was restored and later used as a church, so it is not an unchanged original from the Republic. The bronze doors are copies.
How many senators could sit in the Curia?
The hall had about 300 seats, arranged on steps along the sides of the hall.
What is on the floor?
An opus sectile floor, a pattern made of cut coloured marble. The walls also have coloured marble decoration.