Presepe Vivente di Agliate

Agliate becomes Bethlehem

On the day of Saint Stephen, December 26th, the small hamlet of Agliate, in Carate Brianza (province of Monza and Brianza), experiences its most magical day. The village transforms into a first-century Palestinian village to host the renowned Living Nativity scene, one of the most heartfelt and widely attended sacred representations in all of Brianza.

A journey through history and faith

The natural setting is the extraordinary backdrop of the Romanesque Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, an 11th-century jewel. In the park behind the basilica, the village takes shape: the census, the ancient crafts, the market, scenes of daily life. The path guides spectators to a natural amphitheater, at the top of which lies the grotto with the Holy Family, the emotional heart of the representation.

Over 300 participants

What makes the event unique is the participation of over 300 volunteer participants, who each year don the costumes of the Nativity characters. The main scenes unfold in the afternoon, from approximately 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, in front of thousands of spectators who flock to Agliate each edition. The representation is also broadcast via streaming on the official website presepeagliate.it.

A tradition spanning generations

Organized by the communities of Comunione e Liberazione and AVSI Point Brianza with the collaboration of the Spirito Santo Pastoral Community, the Agliate Living Nativity scene is a tradition that has been renewed since the 1970s. In 2026, it will reach its 50th edition, a milestone that confirms the deep bond between this representation and the community of Carate Brianza.