A Gift from Orkney

My friend and his wife recently returned from a vacation in Scotland and, knowing my longstanding interest in Italian history and culture, surprised me with a small booklet telling the remarkable story of the Italian Chapel. They also shared the beautiful photographs they had taken during their visit, bringing to life a most extraordinary place of worship.

Built during the Second World War by Italian POWs stationed on the Orkney Islands, the chapel stands as a testament to faith, resilience, and the enduring power of beauty in the midst of hardship. Fashioned from humble materials, including two joined Nissen huts, its richly painted interior gives the impression of carved stone, marble, and mosaic. At its heart was the vision and artistry of Domenico Chiocchetti, whose devotion transformed a simple military hut into a sacred sanctuary that continues to inspire visitors from around the world.

Before creating the chapel, Chiocchetti fashioned a striking statue of Saint George from scrap barbed wire and cement salvaged around the camp. More than a work of art, it became a symbol of hope for the prisoners and their longing for peace. Hidden within its plinth, the prisoners placed a milk bottle containing the names of the men of Camp 60, along with a few Italian coins and banknotes, leaving behind a quiet testament to their shared ordeal. The success of the statue helped convince the camp commandant, together with the camp priest, to allow the prisoners to build the Italian Chapel itself.

Surrounded by the touching traditions that have grown up around it, one enduring legend centers on Giuseppe Palumbi, a gifted blacksmith from Abruzzo who fashioned the chapel’s elegant wrought-iron screen. According to local tradition, he fell in love with a young Orcadian woman during his time on the islands, despite having a wife and family waiting for him in Italy. When the war ended and he returned home, he is said to have left behind a small wrought-iron heart embedded in the chapel floor as a silent token of his unfulfilled love. Whether fact or folklore, the story lends another layer of poignancy to a place already rich in sacrifice, longing, faith, and hope.

The story of the Italian Chapel is more than a chapter in wartime history. It is a reminder that even in captivity, the human spirit can create something lasting and beautiful. I am grateful to my friends for thinking of me and for introducing me to this remarkable little sanctuary through the booklet, the photographs they brought home, and the stories they shared from their visit.

~ By Giovanni di Napoli, July 6th, Feast of Santa Domenica di Tropea