San Pietro in Vincoli, or St. Peter in Chains, is a fifth-century basilica on Rome’s Oppian Hill, a short climb from the Colosseum. Its name refers to the chains kept beneath the high altar, traditionally believed to have bound the Apostle Peter during his imprisonment. According to legend, the chains from Jerusalem and Rome fused together when they were placed side by side.
The basilica’s greatest artistic draw is Michelangelo’s Moses, the commanding marble figure at the centre of Pope Julius II’s tomb. Carved in the early 1500s, the horned, seated prophet was intended for a far grander monument that was never completed as planned. The church itself has been altered over the centuries, but its broad nave and rows of ancient columns give it a quieter presence than many of Rome’s more ornate churches.
Cavour metro station on Line B is about a five-minute walk away; from the Colosseum, stairs lead uphill to the church’s small piazza. Check opening hours before visiting, as the basilica often closes for a midday break. It remains an active church, so cover shoulders and knees, and bring a few coins in case the lighting around Moses is on a timer.