San Pietro in Vincoli Church

Address: Piazza di San Pietro in Vincoli, 4, 00184 Roma RM, Italy

Admission: Free (church)

San Pietro in Vincoli is a basilica on the Oppian/Esquiline Hill in Rome, Lazio, traditionally established in the early Christian period and notable today for a major Renaissance sculpture.

The interior is compact but contains a high-profile work of art - Michelangelo’s statue of Moses, part of the funerary monument for Pope Julius II; the figure dominates the right side of the tomb. The church also preserves the relic known as the chains of Saint Peter, kept in a reliquary behind the high altar and historically venerated here.

The building dates to the early centuries of Christianity and was altered in medieval and Renaissance periods; the Julius II tomb was commissioned in the early 16th century and pieces of the monument were completed by Michelangelo around 1513-1515.

Situated on the Oppian Hill in central Rome, it lies within walking distance of the Colosseum and other ancient sites and is easily reached from Rome’s historic centre.

• Michelangelo’s Moses: c.1513-1515, the seated marble figure is roughly 2.35 metres tall and forms the centerpiece of the Julius II tomb.
• Chains of Saint Peter: Behind the main altar is a gilded reliquary said to contain the chains that held Saint Peter; the relic gives the church its name.

What to See#

• Tomb of Pope Julius II: Contains the funerary monument commissioned for Pope Julius II, whose central sculptural figure is Michelangelo’s Moses (c.1513-1515).
• Relic chapel: Houses the chains venerated as those that bound Saint Peter; the relic is displayed behind the high altar in a dedicated reliquary.

San Pietro in Vincoli is in central Rome, a short walk from the Colosseum area and about 10-15 minutes on foot from Roma Termini. By Metro, take Line B to Cavour station and walk roughly 5 minutes; the church is on a side street near Via Cavour and is easily reached on foot from nearby historic attractions.

• Visit San Pietro in Vincoli early in the day to see Michelangelo's Moses with fewer crowds and to have a calmer experience in the small church space.
• Enter from the street side closest to the Colosseum and allow a short stop here when touring the nearby Roman sites - the chains of St. Peter and the Moses sculpture are compact highlights that are easy to overlook amid Rome's larger attractions.
• Check mass times on arrival and avoid the nave during services if you want to photograph or linger near the tomb and Michelangelo's statue without interrupting worship.