Description:
This church was founded in the 5th century to house the chains that bound St. Peter in Palestine (they're preserved under glass). But its drawing card is the tomb of Pope Julius II, with one of the world's most famous sculptures: Michelangelo's Moses. Michelangelo was to have carved 44 magnificent figures for the tomb. That didn't happen, but the pope was given a great consolation prize -- a figure intended to be "minor" that's now counted among Michelangelo's masterpieces. In the Lives of the Artists, Vasari wrote about the stern father symbol of Michelangelo's Moses: "No modern work will ever equal it in beauty, no, nor ancient either."
- © Frommer's 2013
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Ask a local about St. Peter in Chains (San Pietro in Vincoli)
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Ask Rome Locals about St. Peter in Chains (San Pietro in Vincoli)
Awards:
Frommer's
- Recommended 2009
- Recommended 2010
- Details
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Contact:
- tel: 06-4882865
Address:
- Piazza San Pietro in Vincoli 4A (off Via degli Annibaldi)
- Rome
Hours:
- Spring/summer daily 7am-12:30pm and 3:30-7pm; fall/winter to 6pm
Strenuousness:
- No Sweat
- User Rating
