Domenico
I had no expectations when I first visited the Italian Chapel in Orkney. I’d not seen any photographs larger than postage stamps …
Peace to you
Orkney’s Italian Chapel is a jewel, a relic, a prayer and a tiny beacon of hope. It’s also a spectacular work of …
St George at the Italian Chapel
There’s time for us to visit the Italian Chapel on Orkney’s tiny Lamb Holm island. It’s connected to other islands and the …
An Italian Prisoner of War, beachcombing, 75 years ago
Orkney had a substantial Italian Prisoner of War population in the Second World War. They were specially commandeered for building work to …
The Italian Chapel has twins
Orkney’s Italian Chapel was once part of a large complex of Nissen huts with tracks and gardens. For many years it has …
Restoration of The Italian Chapel
Antonella Papa spent a month last year as restorer of Orkney’s Italian Chapel Antonella says: “The Italian Chapel now is part of …
Published in The Orcadian – “Italy visit for chapel committee members”
I was delighted to see my photographs used in The Orcadian‘s article about the Italian Chapel Preservation Committee’s trip to Moena in …
Round the back of The Italian Chapel
I love the view around the back of the Italian Chapel.
Fragile and immortal
The Italian Chapel on Orkney’s tiny island of Lamb Holm is so fragile. These are not bricks; this is not plaster; those …
The words in his pocket
Oh let men, overcoming individual and national egoisms, recognise themselves as brothers, may they refrain from discord, may they love and help one another…
1944
Orkney’s Italian Chapel was completed in 1944. Stonemason Domenico Buttapasta laid cut and polished stones in Roman numerals to celebrate its completion. …
The Italian Chapel – book launch in Moena
We are in Moena in northern Italy at the book launch for La Chiesetta Della Pace – Orkney’s Italian Chapel by Philip …
Making a mark
Coriolano ‘Gino’ Caprara and Roberto Pendini were Italian prisoners of war in Orkney. They helped build the Churchill Barriers which created causeways …
900,000 tons of concrete and rock
Roberto Pendini was held prisoner on the Orkney island of Lamb Holm during the Second World War and worked as part of …
The Miracle of Camp 34
I’m spending time with Coriolano ‘Gino’ Caparara. He’s now 96 and as smart and as funny as he ever was. He talks about his experiences as a prisoner of war held by the British in Orkney as if they were yesterday when “I learned English 70 years ago,” he says “And I never get chance use it.”
Thank you Domenico for reducing me to tears
Imagine being born in the Italian Alps in a tiny town in the mountains. Imagine being an artist. Imagine a fascist government …
Will
Will is my oldest friend, and by that I don’t mean that I’ve known him the longest; but that is also true. …
“Where I, in leaving, leave a part of my heart”.
The Italian Chapel was made on Orkney from two Nissen huts and scraps by Italian prisoners of war: “All the materials for …
First glimpse of the Italian Chapel
The most visited attraction on Orkney is free to visit, was constructed from scrap and Nissen huts and built entirely by Italian …