The city hall was built in the middle of the eighteenth century. It was a famous neoclassical hall at that time. The main feature is that there are twelve circular pillars at the entrance of the building supporting the wide circular lobby. It was the Royal Exchange where businessmen chatted in the open sky to welcome guests. Later, Dublin bought the building, which used to be the temporary headquarters of the Irish government. Still in use, it is the venue where the Parliament meets on the first Monday of each month under the chairmanship of the Mayor of Dublin. Inside the hall there is a circular glass elevator leading directly to the basement. The basement has a free exhibition of the story of the capital, showing Dublin yesterday and today.