Un Lago di Presepi

A nativity scene on the lakebed

Un Lago di Presepi is the Christmas event that transforms Lake Posta Fibreno, in the municipality of Posta Fibreno (Frosinone province, Lazio), into a submerged sanctuary every December. The nativity scenes, handcrafted by participating diving associations, are first displayed on the shore before being lowered by divers onto platforms about five meters deep, where they remain visible thanks to the extraordinary clarity of the reserve's spring-fed waters.

Ten years of a tradition born by chance

It all began when a single nativity scene was submerged in the clear waters of the lake; from that gesture, a tradition was born that celebrated its tenth anniversary in December 2025. Over time, the event has grown to involve a dozen diving associations from Lazio, Campania, Puglia, and other Italian regions, drawing curious onlookers, photographers, and families to the shores of Contrada Carpello every year.

The day's ritual

The main day follows a well-established ritual: in the morning, diving groups gather in Piazza Carpello to display the works created throughout the year, allowing everyone to admire them up close before the dive. This is followed by the presentation of commemorative plaques to the associations, the blessing of the nativity scenes, and finally the most anticipated moment, when the divers enter the water to position the scenes on the lakebed.

• Shoreline exhibition of the nativity scenes created by the associations
• Presentation of commemorative plaques to participating diving groups
• Blessing of the nativity scenes
• Diving and positioning of the works at a depth of about 5 meters
• Free viewing of the submerged site until January 31st

A zero-impact project

All nativity scenes are built exclusively with eco-friendly and non-polluting materials, water-resistant and chosen to ensure they do not alter the lake's ecosystem in any way. This is no minor detail: the Lago di Posta Fibreno Regional Nature Reserve protects a rare environment, fed by perennial springs and famous for its floating island, the Rota, a natural phenomenon already mentioned by Pliny the Elder. The event thus also serves as an opportunity for environmental education and the promotion of the Comino Valley's natural heritage.

What to see and when

Those arriving on the day of the dive witness an unusual spectacle: black-clad divers gliding into the emerald-green water, carrying statues, huts, and comets. But the magic doesn't end there, as the nativity scenes remain underwater throughout the holiday season until January 31st: on clear days, they can be seen clearly from the banks and piers, as if suspended in a natural aquarium.

In the heart of the Comino Valley

Posta Fibreno is a small village in southern Lazio, just a few kilometers from Sora and Alvito, in an area of great interest for slow tourism between the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park and the Ciociaria region. Visiting the event is the perfect opportunity to discover an authentic territory, featuring trails along the lake, river trout and crayfish, local olive oil and cheeses, and a Ciociarian gastronomy still tied to the seasons.