Italian Chapel
The Italian Chapel in Orkney was built by Italian prisoners of war in 1943. They were given two nissan huts and this was converted into a Chapel which has been preserved as it was so beautiful.
The Italian Chapel in Orkney was built by Italian prisoners of war in 1943. They were given two nissan huts and this was converted into a Chapel which has been preserved as it was so beautiful.
One of the places we had to see was the Italian Chapel on Lamb Holm, one of the islands connected by the Churchill Barriers. This Chapel was built by some of the 550 Italian prisoners of war who were involved in building the Churchill barriers; used to stop German infiltration of Scapa Flow during the Second World War. The Italian Chapel was built from virtually nothing except dedication and skill and is a lasting testimony of their work during the darker part of the last century and that beauty can arise from dispair.
Italian Chapel in Orkney - showing the nissan huts used to built the Chapel
Inside view of the Santuary in the Italian Chapel
Painted roof and lights in the Italian Chapel, the candle holders were made out of old food tins.

Statue of St George outside the Italian Chapel.
You can read more about the Italian Chapel on Undiscovered Scotland.
Books on Orkney (Amazon UK Store). Books are also available on Orkney from Amazon.com and in other currencies from Amazon - see top of page.
Created using Coral Painter
Duck on nest at the Ring of Brogar
Larger image of this computer generated picture of the small island off Stromness - Inner Holm.
Kirkwall harbour and town