San Pietro in Vincoli (Michelangelo's Moses, Chains of St. Peter)

This place has the chains which St. Peter was bound in prison, also has Michelangelo's awe inspiring statue Moses. The two chains which shackled St. Peter are known as Vicoli and these were used while he was jailed in the depths of the Mamertine Prison.

The chains were separated but when they came back together they linked back together miraculously. Michelangelo's Moses is actually the tomb of Pope Julius II.

Michelangelo was only able to finish the statue of Moses and the dying slaves when he had to leave to work on the Sistine's Chapel's Last Judgment. Michelangelo had planned a tomb with 40 statues, the tomb has six niches for statues. The Dying Slaves are currently in Paris and Florence. Moses appears to have horns but they should really be beams of light apparently this is due to a translation issue. This sculpture up close is truly amazing, so lifelike with a true force behind it. The tension in the muscles are amazing, I can see what this work is so greatly admired and why Michelangelo felt this was his best work.