Italian Chapel
A small chapel that Italian prisoners of war built during World War II from two Nissen huts and scrap materials. Its interior murals are exquisite, and it is one of Orkney's most moving stories.
In 1943, Italian prisoners of war building the Churchill Barriers joined two Nissen huts on Lamb Holm and transformed them into a chapel using scrap iron, concrete and tin cans. The painter Domenico Chiocchetti created the altarpiece mural and the trompe-l'oeil brick-effect walls. He returned several times after the war to restore the chapel. It is still used for worship and charges a small admission fee to fund upkeep. The Italian Chapel lies about 12 kilometers south of Kirkwall and is reached right after crossing the first Churchill Barrier. It can be combined with the barriers and South Ronaldsay.
Opening hours
Usually 09:00–17:00 (shorter in winter); small entry fee
Nearby sights
- Churchill Barriers
- Highland Park Distillery
- Bishop's and Earl's Palaces
- St Magnus Cathedral
- The Orkney Museum
- Kirkwall Old Town & Harbour
- Scapa Distillery
- Scapa Flow