San Pietro in Vincoli: Michelangelo's Moses

Updated on October 5, 2026

The church of San Pietro in Vincoli (St Peter in Chains) stands on the Colle Oppio, a ten-minute walk from the Colosseum, and houses Michelangelo's Moses. In October 2026 it is open daily from 8am to 12:30pm and from 3pm to 6pm, with free entry; the afternoon session runs to 7pm from April to September. Allow 30 to 45 minutes. The basilica was built in the 5th century to house the chains said to have bound St Peter, and today it holds, along with the Moses, one of the most famous works of the Renaissance.

Highlights

Michelangelo's Moses

Carved around 1513-1515 for the tomb of Pope Julius II, it shows the prophet seated, with a long beard and the tablets of the Law under his arm. The two small horns on his forehead come from an old Latin translation of the Bible.

The façade and portico

A five-arched portico leads to the church, which you reach by a covered staircase from Via Cavour.

The tomb of Julius II

The monument, which was meant to be colossal, remained far more modest than the original plan. Beside the Moses, the statues of Leah and Rachel symbolise the active and the contemplative life.

The chains of St Peter

Beneath the high altar, a bronze and crystal reliquary holds the chains of Peter's imprisonment, according to tradition.

The nave and its columns

Twenty columns of ancient marble line the nave of the church, which was remodelled in the Renaissance and in the 18th century.

Opening hours and prices

Free entry. October to March: 8am-12:30pm and 3pm-6pm; April to September: 8am-12:30pm and 3pm-7pm. Visits are not possible during Mass. Hours taken in October 2026: check them before you go.

Practical info

Tips

A coin lights up the Moses for a few moments: keep some change. Avoid the early afternoon, when the church is closed between 12:30pm and 3pm. Shoulders and knees covered. The church combines well with the Colosseum and the Domus Aurea, with the trail of Michelangelo in Rome, or with the Monti district.