Discover one of WWII's most moving stories — Italian prisoners of war who fashioned a breathtaking ornate chapel from two Nissen huts and scrap metal on a remote Orkney island. An intimate, deeply human chapter of wartime Britain.
What to expect
Your tour crosses the Churchill Barriers — concrete causeways built by Italian POWs on Churchill's orders to protect Scapa Flow — before arriving at Lamb Holm and the Italian Chapel. Your guide recounts how prisoners beautified the interior with hand-painted trompe l'oeil stonework, wrought ironwork, and a carved rood screen using only the humblest materials. The chapel's pristine condition today is testament to its meaning for both Orcadians and Italians who still make pilgrimage here. The drive back along the Barriers offers sweeping views across Scapa Flow, the great natural harbour that shaped two World Wars.
Good to know
Entry to the Italian Chapel is free, though donations are welcomed. The full tour runs approximately 3–4 hours from Kirkwall. Book directly with Go Orkney to secure a specialist guide; walk-ins are possible but quality narration cannot be guaranteed.
Sail there
Luxury cruises that call at Copinsay Island — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.
More to do in Copinsay Island
- Copinsay Seabird Colony: Private Zodiac Landing & Guided Walk
- Ring of Brodgar & Skara Brae: Private Expert-Led UNESCO Tour
- Orkney Trike Tours: Coastal Panorama Ride Across Mainland Orkney
- Copinsay Lighthouse: Private Boat Passage & Coastal Photography
- Maes Howe Chambered Cairn: Expert Solstice & Viking Runes Tour