Located near the Colosseum, San Pietro in Vincoli was originally built between 432 and 440 CE under the patronage of Empress Eudoxia to enshrine the relics of the chains used to imprison Saint Peter in Jerusalem. The basilica underwent several renovations and restorations over the centuries. Its most significant transformation occurred during the Renaissance.
The interior of San Pietro in Vincoli is a classical basilican structure featuring a nave and two side aisles, separated by 20 Ionic columns. The coffered wooden ceiling, added in the 16th century, features intricate gilded decorations and papal heraldry. The fresco depicting the Miracle of the chains was created by Giovanni Battista Parodi in 1706.
San Pietro in Vincoli - Miracle of the chains, Giovanni Battista Parodi (1706)
The basilica’s most famous artwork is Michelangelo’s Moses, part of the unfinished tomb of Pope Julius II. Created between 1513 and 1515, the statue is celebrated for its imposing presence, lifelike detail, and the dynamism of its posture. Moses is depicted with horns, a feature derived from a mistranslation of the Hebrew Bible, where "rays of light" were interpreted as "horns."
Michelangelo’s Moses
You may also like