The church's name is a reference to the crowing of the cock during Peter's triple denial of Jesus.
The Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu was built in 1931 on the remains of a succession of other churches, the oldest of which was a Byzantine shrine to Peter's repentance constructed in 457 CE. As such, it is a composite of various epochs and styles, combining ancient works of art with modern design. Among the more impressive fixtures are a huge mosaic depicting New Testament figures, and, in the courtyard, a statue that describes Jesus' denial by Peter.
The church also extends below ground, incorporating stone from ancient grottoes in the lower chapel. Descending further below ground level, one arrives at a series of Second Temple-era chambers, where Jesus was perhaps imprisoned. A staircase leading down to the Kidron Valley on the northern side of the church is said to have served as a passage between the upper and the lower cities during the time of the First Temple.
