Chiesa di San Pietro in Montorio (Church of St. Peter on the Golden Mountain), Rome

San Pietro in Montorio, also known as Saint Peter on the Golden Mountain stands on the Janiculum hill, where an earlier 9th-century church dedicated to Saint Peter once existed. San Pietro in Montorio is considered a sacred place, as it marks the supposed site of Saint Peter's crucifixion.

While the exterior of the Church of San Pietro in Montorio may not be particularly appealing, its interior is a true treasure trove of artwork. The church houses an impressive collection that is difficult to find elsewhere, especially free of charge. One of the main attractions within the church is the Tempietto, a structure located in the inner cloister. This tempietto is built on the exact spot where Saint Peter is believed to have been crucified. The historical evidence supporting Saint Peter's presence and martyrdom in Rome is significant, adding to the sacredness of this site.

The interior of the church is adorned with exquisite artworks created by renowned artists of the 16th and 17th centuries. Until 1797, Raphael's final masterpiece, the Transfiguration, graced the high altar of the church. However, during the Napoleonic period, the altarpiece was taken by the French as part of a treaty and is now housed in the Vatican Pinacoteca. Currently, a copy by Cammuccini of Guido Reni's Crucifixion of Saint Peter is displayed on the altar.

Among the other notable artworks in the church, the first chapel on the right houses Sebastiano del Piombo's Flagellation and Transfiguration, which incorporate figure drawings supplied by Michelangelo. The second chapel features a fresco by Niccolò Circignani from 1554, as well as Renaissance frescoes from the school of Pinturicchio, including an allegorical sibyl and virtue attributed to Baldassarre Peruzzi.

In the fourth chapel, visitors can admire a stunning ceiling fresco created by Giorgio Vasari. Furthermore, the fifth chapel's ceiling depicts another remarkable fresco, the Conversion of Saint Paul, also painted by Vasari.