Restoration artist begins work at Italian Chapel

A restoration specialist from Italy, who has carried out work on historic religious buildings, including the Sistine Chapel, has arrived in Orkney to carry out restoration work on the Italian Chapel.

Antonella Papa, an artist from Rome, who specialises in restoration work in cathedrals and churches, plans to stay for the month of April and will spend her time carrying out the delicate restoration of areas of the paintwork in the chapel, some of which previously suffered from water damage.

The artwork was originally carried out by Italian prisoners of war during World War Two.

The artist described the chapel as a very special place which had been created in a “terrible time of war.”

“I am very grateful to be here. I am very much in love with Orkney, it is a very beautiful place,” she added.

John Muir of the Italian Chapel Preservation committee said: “We are delighted that Antonella has come to carry out the work, it was a great opportunity for us to have someone of her calibre here, and we appreciate the fact that she has given her valuable time to do so.”