The 'horns' on the statue of Moses result from a mistranslation of the Hebrew word 'karan' (radiating light) as 'keren' (horns) in the Latin Bible.
The relic chains, brought from Jerusalem by Empress Eudoxia, are stored in a bronze reliquary under the high altar.
Legend states that when Pope Leo I touched the two separate chains together, they miraculously fused into one.
The church was originally called 'Basilica Eudoxiana' after its founder, Empress Eudoxia.
The statue of Moses was intended to be part of a massive 47-statue monument that was eventually scaled down due to financial constraints.
The floor of the basilica contains remnants of a Roman residential complex dating to the 2nd century.
Giulio Clovio, an Italian Renaissance miniaturist, is buried within the church.
The Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli is a 5th-century minor basilica primarily known for housing Michelangelo’s funerary sculpture of Moses. The church was built to hold the relics of the chains said to have bound Saint Peter during his imprisonment in Jerusalem. The central nave features a coffered ceiling adorned with a fresco by Giovanni Battista Parodi depicting the miracle of the chains. Michelangelo's Moses, completed in 1515, serves as the centerpiece of the unfinished tomb for Pope Julius II. The sculpture is noted for the distinct 'horns' on the head of Moses, an artistic interpretation of a mistranslation in the Latin Vulgate Bible. Architectural modifications from the 15th and 18th centuries have altered the original early Christian layout. The interior contains the relics of the Maccabean martyrs in an urn beneath the main altar. The basilica is located on the Oppian Hill, overlooking the area near the Colosseum.
Directly in front of the Moses statue, slightly to the right to capture the full scale of the tomb.
Bring a small coin to activate the lighting system for the Moses statue, as the natural light in the side aisle is often dim.
Look for the fresco on the ceiling that depicts the liberation of Saint Peter.
Allow time to walk up the steep staircase (Salita di San Francesco di Paola) from the base of the hill for the best approach.
Do not mistake the smaller, ground-level entrance for the main nave entrance; ensure you are in the correct section of the complex.
The basilica typically closes for a midday break; visitors should check signage at the door for the afternoon reopening time.
Shoulders and knees must be covered; hats should be removed upon entry; refrain from flash photography.
