San Pietro In Vincoli  

This very old church San Pietro In Vincoli was erected in the 4th century and completely renovated by Pope Julius II at the end of the 15th century. Its name means "Saint Peter in Chains".

The great attraction is the mausoleum of Julius II commissioned by the Pope himself in 1505 realized by Michelangelo.

Moses by Michelangelo 1515

This massive and dignified Moses (shown above) stands between St. Rachel who represents the contemplative life and Saint Lia who represents the active life. Cecil B. de Mille apparently gave Charlton Heston the role of Moses in his film The Ten Commandments because he closely resembled the statue. Of this statue Giorgio Vasari, artist and biographer of artists, said:"No modern work will ever approach it in beauty, nor ancient either".

Michelagelo's famous Moses statue, part of the Pope Julius II, has gotten dirty over the past 400 years.
Project Moses, an initiative to give Moses a much needed bath is underway. However, the cleaning process will not be done behind closed doors, as often the case with restoration work.

In this gilded bronze coffin are kept the chains that bound St. Peter in Jerusalem, later was added those that shackled him in Rome's Mamertine Prison.

Both sets of chains miraculously fused together.