San Pietro in Vincoli
San Pietro in Vincoli
San Pietro in Vincoli
tomb of pope julius ii
The Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli is one of the oldest churches in Rome. It contains one of the most important works by Michelangelo, which is the tomb of Pope Julius II: “Moses”.
My Rating:
The positives:
A great "on the way" sight. With its location (between the Colosseum and the Monti district), the church is a wonderful sight that can be included on the sightseeing route without much detour.
The negatives:
It is somewhat inconvenient that the audio guide is not portable. In addition, the church has a three-hour "lunch break" - which I personally find relatively long.
Tip:
Since the church is closed between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., a few people/groups are waiting in front of the church just before it opens. It is therefore worth visiting the church only from 3:30 p.m. or in the course of the morning (10 a.m.). The audio guide is also recommended. This costs only 2 € and two people can use it at the same time.
Last Modified: 12.03.2024 | Céline & Susi
SAN PIETRO IN VINCOLI
tickets
The details
at a glance
Opening Hours
April – September:
daily, 8.00 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. and 3.00 p.m. – 7.00 p.m.
October – March:
daily, 8.00 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. and 3.00 p.m. – 6.00 p.m.
Visits are not possible during trade fairs. Worship services are at 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and on Sundays and public holidays at 9:00 a.m. and 11.00 a.m.
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San Pietro in Vincoli
Photo Gallery
What is there
to see?
When asking for tips during your stay in Rome, you’ll likely hear a sentence like this one: “When you’re in Rome, you absolutely must visit St. Peter’s Basilica.” Everyone knows the Basilica San Pietro. Everyone wants to go there. Everyone is impressed. But there’s another St. Peter’s Church in Rome that is absolutely worth seeing: San Pietro in Vincoli. And ideally, “everyone” should want to come here as well. Although it might not be immediately recognizable as a church from the outside, a visit is definitely worthwhile.
Upon entering the church, one thing immediately stands out: compared to the ornate altar, the walls are plain and minimalistic. However, if you take some time to explore, you’ll notice that beautiful tombs and artworks are hidden on the initially unassuming walls on both sides, behind the columns, including the “San Sebastian” mosaic from the 7th century. When you look up at the ceiling, you’ll see a beautiful 18th-century ceiling painting called “The Miracle of the Chains” by Giovanni Battista Parodi, as well as two wooden beams. These beams are original from the 2nd century.
Now, your gaze returns to the altar, or more specifically, to the chains beneath it, securely preserved in a glass case. San Pietro in Vincoli translates to “Saint Peter in Chains,” and this is a relic.
And when you stand before the altar, you cannot miss another main attraction of the church. To the right of the altar is one of Michelangelo’s most significant works, which also serves as the tomb of Pope Julius II. “Moses” is the masterpiece of the Italian artist from the 16th century. It is incredibly impressive on its own. The stark contrast with the rest of the church makes the artwork even more imposing.
SAN PIETRO IN VINCOLI
A bit of HISTORY
The Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli is one of the oldest churches in Rome. It was built in 431 AD using remains from the previous 2nd-century structure and was consecrated by Pope Leo the Great (440-451). After multiple renovations between the 8th and 15th centuries, it was Pope Julius II in 1503 who had the church redesigned in the Renaissance style that is still preserved today.
The basilica is named after the chains (Italian: vincoli). According to tradition, the Apostle Peter was imprisoned and chained in Jerusalem. He was miraculously freed from the chains by an angel and escaped. The chains left behind were brought to Rome in the 5th century and presented to Pope Sixtus III. In Rome, these chains were kept alongside the chains that Peter wore as a prisoner of Nero. In a miraculous event during a service, these two sets of chains were brought together. This miracle is celebrated by the Catholic Church on August 1st, known as the “Feast of St. Peter in Chains.” On this day, the chains are displayed to the faithful in the church. On all other days of the year, the chains can be viewed in a glass case beneath the main altar.
In 1505, Pope Julius II, who would later commission the construction of the new St. Peter’s Basilica, invited Michelangelo to the Vatican to design his tomb. The painter, sculptor, and architect Michelangelo cleverly managed to postpone this task until 1513, the year of the Pope’s death. The relationship between him and Julius II was not particularly good.
Instead, Michelangelo preferred to focus on other, more important commissions. He worked on the Julius Tomb from 1513 to 1545. The artist frequently modified it himself, and funding for the project was reduced over time. It was never completed in its intended form. Nevertheless, it is a masterpiece. Due to the reduction in funds, fewer sculptures were added. Two slaves, originally intended to decorate the columns, can now be found in the Louvre in Paris.
Vasari, an architect and biographer, even described it as “perfect”: “a work made more with the brush than with the chisel.”
Kind of Fun-Fact: Pope Julius II is buried elsewhere, specifically in St. Peter’s Basilica, under a simple tombstone.
By the way, in Rome, you can come across more statues of Moses. And it will be easy for you to recognize him because if you look closely, you’ll see that Moses is always depicted with two horns. This is actually a translation error, and Moses was given horns instead of rays or a crown.
Official website of San Pietro in Vincoli (IT): www.lateranensi.org/sanpietroinvincoli
Text and image rights: Céline Mülich 2017 – 2024
With the support of Susanne Vukan.
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