Basilica di San Pietro in Vincoli (Basilica of St. Peter in Chains), Rome

This basilica gained significant recognition thanks to Michelangelo's "Moses", a masterpiece sculpted in the early 16th century for Pope Julius II's unfinished tomb. Originally intended to be a grand structure featuring numerous statues and towering nearly 40 feet tall in St. Peter's Basilica, only three statues were completed—Moses and the flanking figures of Leah and Rachel—before Julius passed away. The subsequent pope, a member of the rival Medici family, had different plans for Michelangelo, leading to the abandonment of the unfinished tomb. Despite this, the intense power of the remarkable Moses sculpture remains unparalleled in its setting. Legend has it that Michelangelo's profile, as well as that of the pope, can be discerned in the intricate details, such as the lock of Moses's beard beneath his lip.

In the church itself, St. Peter takes a secondary role to the commanding presence of Moses. Under the main altar, an urn made of bronze and crystal houses the reputed chains that once bound St. Peter during his imprisonment in Jerusalem and Rome. Other notable treasures include a 7th-century mosaic depicting St. Sebastian, situated in front of the second altar to the left of the main altar, and the tomb of the Pollaiuolo brothers, two Florentine artists from the 15th century, located near the entrance.

Why You Should Visit:
Understated exterior, incredible interior; a Michelangelo must-see.