ITALIAN SCOTLAND IS THE WEBSITE OF THE COCAIS & THE COMITES

italian cloister garden

Once in a lifetime the chance arises to make a significant difference to our surroundings and to our community. That moment has arrived as St. Andrew's , the oldest and most venerable Catholic Church in Scotland is redeveloped.

One improvement planned is a new cloister, a traditional feature for a Cathedral, offering it "breathing space" - a gathering area, exhibition and café space, meeting areas etc.

Over the years the Italian community has both benefited greatly and contributed greatly to the life of Scotland. The memorial garden in Italianate style will mark that contribution. The garden will be open to all and will benefit all, but will have a distinctive Italian atmosphere... a little corner of Italy in the heart of the "dear green place".

The Cloister Garden will be a place to remember those of our loved ones who have died. It will also provide a focus for a forgotten tragedy which has never been appropiately marked...

On the morning of the 2nd July, 1940, off the coast of Ireland, the transatlantic liner, the Arandora Star was torpedoed and sank. Aboard were hundreds of Italian Civilians living in the UK who had been arrested and interned after Italy's entry into the war. In the sinking, more than 700 men perished, Brits, Germans and 446 Italian civilians.

The new Cloister Garden will be the first permanent memorial to the victims.

For more information, please visit

http://italiancloister.org.uk/