Scottish Island's WWII Italian POW Chapel Reflects Enduring Cultural Ties

Lamb Holm, a remote island in Scotland's Orkney Islands, harbors a surprising historical connection to Italy, dating back to World War II.

During the war, over 1,000 Italian prisoners of war, captured in North Africa, were housed on Lamb Holm. They were tasked with constructing the Churchill Barriers, causeways that now connect several of the Orkney Islands. The prisoners worked in quarries and on construction projects.

During their time on the island, the prisoners were given two disused huts, which they transformed into a chapel. Artist Domenico Chiocchetti, one of the prisoners, was instrumental in decorating the interior, painting "the Madonna of the Olive Branch" above the altar. The construction was a collaborative effort, with electricians, cement workers, and a blacksmith contributing their skills to repurpose corrugated iron huts.

The chapel features two stained-glass windows depicting St. Francis of Assisi and St. Catherine of Sienna. From its exterior, the white-washed building could easily be mistaken for a chapel found in the Italian countryside.

After the war concluded, the prisoners departed, but some later returned to visit the chapel they had built. In 1996, a formal declaration was signed between Orkney and Moena, Chiocchetti's hometown, officially linking the two locations.

Reaching Lamb Holm requires travel from mainland Scotland via ferry to Kirkwall, followed by a drive or bus journey. Alternatively, flights are available from Aberdeen to Orkney. Once on the island, visitors can explore the chapel and the surrounding landscape.

Approximately a three-minute walk from the chapel lies Italian Beach, a sandy shore backed by rocks. Nearby amenities include the Orkney Wine Company, a rum and spirit store, and the Oyster Restoration Company, an initiative focused on rebuilding oyster reefs.