From Romelda
Less than 30 minutes by road toward Masvingo / Mutare.
St Francis of Assisi
Italian Chapel
A chapel of gratitude built by Italian WWII internees near Masvingo, with murals and a quiet cemetery.
Just outside Masvingo on the Mutare road, less than a half-hour from Romelda, the Italian Chapel of St Francis of Assisi was built between 1942 and 1946 by Italian civilians held at Internment Camp No. 5. It became a place of worship, remembrance, and craftsmanship under difficult conditions, and it still holds wall and ceiling paintings that surprise first-time visitors.
- Built 1942–1946 by Italian internees
- Resting place for 71 Italians who died in the country during the war
- Murals and ceiling paintings by interned artists
- Free entry; donations to caretakers appreciated
History
Refuge, Work & Remembrance
During the Second World War, enemy alien civilians from Italian colonies and elsewhere were held in camps across Southern Rhodesia. At Masvingo, internees built this chapel as a scheme of work and an act of faith. After the war, wings were added. Today the remains of seventy-one Italians who died during incarceration rest here, with plaques commemorating those lost.
- Civilian internees, not only military POWs
- Chapel construction as wartime employment and devotion
- Side wings and cemetery after the war
- Still used for Catholic services
Visit
A Short, Moving Stop
A visit usually takes 15–30 minutes: step inside for the unexpected murals, walk the intimate grounds, and spend a moment at the cemetery. Caretakers often open the doors and share the story. Entrance is free; a small donation helps those who look after the site. Dress respectfully if you arrive during a service.
- About 4–5km east of Masvingo toward Mutare
- Under 30 minutes from Romelda by road
- Quick wonder around chapel and grounds
- Donation to caretakers encouraged
Combine
On the Cultural Circuit
The chapel sits naturally on the return via Masvingo after Great Zimbabwe, Chamavara, or the dam wall. It adds a twentieth-century human story to a day of ancient stone and lake landscape, and it is one of the most unexpected stops guests remember from the Masvingo area.
- Easy add-on to a Cultural Day Trip
- Pairs with Great Zimbabwe and Chamavara
- Good final stop before the drive home
- Quiet, reflective change of pace
Practical
Plan your visit
Entry
Free. Please donate to caretakers who open and maintain the chapel.
Time
15–30 minutes for chapel, murals, and grounds.