Pope St. Peter's Chains
Strangely the bible makes no mention of Peter ever being in Rome.
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Is this where prisoners were held before they were thrown from the Tarpeian rock?
Because it was Christmas, not many people were out and about. We were very surprised the prison was letting in visitors on this day, but they were.
The day was cloudy and solemn, rather than sunny-bright and airy as Rome usually is. As we walked down the deep, winding staircase we came to a spot that legend said the guards, while pushing Peter down the staircase, pushed his face into the rock wall. The rock is supposed to have yielded, putting a human head-sized depression into it that has lasted even until today. At least that's the legend today's Romans tell.
The depths got darker and darker, only lit by faint electrical lights. In those days long ago, even dimmer torches would have been used.
Finally we came to the chambers that were cells. Originally the whole place was a series of natural caves, and these cells were the original cavern chambers. It was so quiet you could hear a distant "plop, plop, plop" of water, dripping somewhere. I could even imagine hearing a faint, repetitive, prayer going on somewhere, like ancient times for the unfortunates housed here.
It was just a powerful and awesome experience, to see the wretchedness of the place, and to know both Saint Peter and Paul were kept in it for following the Lord.
As He said:
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.