The government building in ancient Rome was called the Curia. The Curia was the meeting place of the Roman Senate, a council of elders that advised the consuls and other magistrates on important matters of state. The Curia was located in the Roman Forum, a large public square in the center of the city. The Curia was a rectangular building with a tiled roof and a portico of columns on the front. The interior of the Curia was divided into two chambers: the main hall, where the Senate met, and a smaller chamber, where the senators could vote on important issues. The Curia was a very important building in ancient Rome, as it was the place where the most important decisions about the empire were made.