Underwater Nativity Scene of Lake San Domenico

A Nativity scene that descends underwater

In the heart of Abruzzo, at an altitude of over 900 meters along the evocative Sagittario Gorges, the village of Villalago preserves one of Italy's most unique Christmas rituals. Every December 26th, as day gives way to twilight, Lake San Domenico transforms into a natural stage of rare beauty: a team of divers immerses the Nativity statues on the lakebed in a ritual that blends faith, nature, and spectacle.

How it unfolds

The highlight is a scenic procession on the lake's surface. Using special rafts, the divers transport the six ceramic statues to the spot where they will be placed on the bottom. The figures represent the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, the Baby Jesus, and the three Wise Men, crafted by the Castelli Art Institute in the province of Teramo, a village world-renowned for its ceramic tradition. Candles and torches burn around the water, while the atmosphere is made even more evocative by Christmas carols, the sound of bagpipes, and spectacular fireworks that illuminate the night sky and reflect on the water.

Organizers

The event is managed by the Tortuga Club Teramo, which brings together diving enthusiasts from all over Italy, with the collaboration of the Municipality of Villalago and MSP Italia. Over the years, the event has gained national resonance, even featuring in reports by RAI.

The lake and San Domenico

Lake San Domenico is an artificial basin with shifting colors, beloved by visitors. Its name recalls Saint Dominic the Abbot, the hermit who lived in these lands about a thousand years ago: the famous Hermitage of San Domenico, one of the most photographed spots in inland Abruzzo, is still visible on the lake's shores. Villalago, in the province of L'Aquila, is situated in a spectacular position among the mountains of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, and this underwater Nativity has become a defining event for the entire community and the Sagittario Valley.

Why it's worth the trip

Defined as one of a kind in the entire Apennines, the Underwater Nativity of Villalago is much more than a simple representation of the Nativity: it is a community event that fuses spirituality, folk tradition, and the magic of a winter mountain landscape. Watching the statues descend under the flickering light of torches on a freezing late-December night is an emotional experience that stays with you.