Saint Lawrence Festival at the Sanctuary of Guanzate
The Great Bonfire of Saint Lawrence Night at the Sanctuary of Guanzate
About Saint Lawrence Festival
Saint Lawrence Night in Brianza
The Festival of Saint Lawrence at the Sanctuary of Guanzate, in the province of Como, is one of the most evocative events of the Brianza summer. Every August 10th, the sanctuary dedicated to the Madonna of Saint Lawrence celebrates the deacon and martyr Lawrence with a solemn feast that combines religious devotion with a spectacular tradition passed down for decades, capable of attracting faithful and pilgrims from Como, Cantù, and all of Brianza.
The Great Bonfire
The most anticipated moment is the Great Bonfire of Saint Lawrence. In the evening, a ball of fire is lowered from the bell tower of the sanctuary and ignites a large pile of wood, creating a spectacular bonfire. It is a ritual full of charm, which blends the religious dimension with the popular one and which every year gathers a large crowd around the sanctuary, with the night sky of Saint Lawrence as a backdrop.
A Centuries-Old Tradition
Alongside the bonfire, the festival includes the three-day preparation, the rosary along the avenue of chapels, and the solemn mass with the lighting of the globe. The Festival of Saint Lawrence is an integral part of the identity of Guanzate and its sanctuary, a Marian pilgrimage destination for over five centuries, and represents one of the moments when the community comes together around a heritage of faith and traditions that time has not diminished.
Saint Lawrence Festival — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Festival of Saint Lawrence at the Sanctuary of Guanzate takes place on Monday, August 10th, preceded by the three-day preparation (Tuesday, August 7th, Wednesday, August 8th, and Thursday, August 9th at 4:30 PM, with rosary, litanies of the saints, and blessing). On August 10th, at 8:15 AM the rosary along the avenue of chapels, at 8:45 AM the solemn mass with the lighting of the globe, and at 9:30 PM the highlight: the Great Bonfire of Saint Lawrence, with the ball of fire lowered from the bell tower to ignite the pile of wood.
Programme Saint Lawrence Festival 2026
Three-day preparation
- Tuesday, August 7th, Wednesday, August 8th, and Thursday, August 9th, 4:30 PM — Rosary, litanies of the saints, and blessing
Monday, August 10, 2026 — Saint Lawrence
- 8:15 AM — Rosary along the avenue of chapels
- 8:45 AM — Solemn mass with lighting of the globe
- 9:30 PM — Great Bonfire of Saint Lawrence (ball of fire from the bell tower)
Highlights Saint Lawrence Festival 2026
The Great Evening Bonfire with the ball of fire lowered from the bell tower and the solemn mass with the lighting of the globe.
Prices Saint Lawrence Festival 2026
Practical information — Saint Lawrence Festival
How to get there
Guanzate is located in Brianza, between Como and Cantù. The Sanctuary is reachable by car; the festival attracts pilgrims from all over the Como area.
When
August 10th. Three-day preparation on August 7th, 8th, and 9th at 4:30 PM. On August 10th: rosary at 8:15 AM, solemn mass with lighting of the globe at 8:45 AM, Great Bonfire at 9:30 PM.
Information
Organized by the Pastoral Community of Saint Benedict the Abbot. Free admission.
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Where does it take place — Saint Lawrence Festival
Santuario di Guanzate
Santuario di San Lorenzo, 22070 Guanzate