Underwater Nativity Scene of the Santa Susanna Spring
The Nativity immersed in the spring waters of the Rieti Holy Valley
About Rivodutri Underwater Nativity Scene
A nativity scene inside a spring
In the heart of the Rieti Holy Valley, the town of Rivodutri (Rieti province, Lazio) preserves one of Central Italy's most unusual Christmas displays. At the Santa Susanna Spring in the Piedicolle area, the Nativity is not placed in a church or a square, but at the bottom of one of Europe's richest springs, declared a natural monument in 1977 and capable of discharging about five thousand liters of water per second.
The figures are made of fiberglass, stand about 1.5 meters tall, and are anchored nearly four meters deep, where the current never stops moving. Underwater spotlights illuminate the scene, making it visible even after sunset: the crystal-clear water acts as a lens, creating an effect that visitors describe as suspended, almost surreal.
Thirty years of community tradition
The installation began in the mid-nineties on the initiative of the Rieti Divers Club, who return to dive every year to position the statues. With the edition inaugurated in December 2025, the event reached its thirtieth anniversary, confirming its status as one of the most iconic nativity scenes in the Rieti area.
The underwater nativity scene fits into a precise symbolic context: we are in the Valley of the First Nativity, the land where Saint Francis of Assisi created the first representation of the Nativity in nearby Greccio in 1223. Rivodutri adds a contemporary and surprising interpretation to this legacy, linked to the element of water.
The inauguration
The lighting traditionally takes place on the Saturday following December 7th, in the late afternoon, with a well-attended ceremony. The ritual includes a blessing—in recent years performed by the Bishop of Rieti, Monsignor Vito Piccinonna—performances by the children of the Rivodutri nursery and primary schools, musical accompaniment by the Musì Duo, the «G. Verdi» Band of Rivodutri, and bagpipers, and finally the evocative underwater torchlight procession by the divers, who descend with torches along the slope of the spring.
Christmas in Rivodutri
The nativity scene is not an isolated event: until January 6th, the town offers a calendar of appointments involving schools, parishes, associations, and families. Recurring highlights include:
- the Santa Claus House, where children can drop off their letters addressed to the North Pole;
- entertainment for children with face painting, giant bubbles, and balloon sculptures;
- cotton candy, popcorn, traditional sweets, and mulled wine offered by local associations;
- band concerts, choirs, and moments of solidarity with the Italian Red Cross;
- the trail of life-sized corten steel silhouettes—the knight, the shepherd, the mother with the child, the washerwoman—installed in the spring park and arranged like a procession leading toward the submerged nativity scene.
The spring park
The Santa Susanna Spring is a top-tier naturalistic destination in its own right, located within the Laghi Lungo e Ripasottile Reserve. The small park surrounding it, with its waterfalls and colors shifting from emerald green to turquoise, is accessible via short walks suitable for children. During the Christmas period, the lights and installations completely transform the atmosphere, making a visit interesting both during the day and at dusk.
Why visit
Those who come to Rivodutri find a free-entry event with a strong visual impact and a human scale: no big-city crowds, but an entire town in motion. It is an excellent reason to combine the visit with a broader itinerary in the Holy Valley, among the Franciscan sanctuaries of Greccio, Fonte Colombo, La Foresta, and Poggio Bustone, all reachable in less than half an hour by car.
Rivodutri Underwater Nativity Scene — edition 2026
The 30th anniversary
With the 2025-2026 edition, the underwater nativity scene of Rivodutri reached thirty years of existence, a milestone celebrated with a well-attended ceremony at the Santa Susanna Spring. The divers of the Rieti Divers Club, creators of the display, returned the fiberglass figures to a depth of about four meters and closed the inauguration with the traditional underwater torchlight procession.
The inauguration
The blessing was given by the Bishop of Rieti, Monsignor Vito Piccinonna, before a large audience. The afternoon was enlivened by performances by the children of the Rivodutri nursery and primary schools, accompanied by the Musì Duo, the «G. Verdi» Band of Rivodutri, and bagpipers.
Until Epiphany
After the lighting, the nativity scene remained open to the public for free until January 6, 2026, with underwater lighting allowing for evening viewing. During the same period, the Municipality proposed a busy calendar of initiatives aimed at children, families, associations, parishes, and passing visitors.
Programme Rivodutri Underwater Nativity Scene 2026
Inauguration — Saturday, December 13, 2025, Santa Susanna Spring
- Blessing of the nativity scene by the Bishop of Rieti, Monsignor Vito Piccinonna
- Performance by the children of the Rivodutri nursery and primary schools
- Musical accompaniment by the Musì Duo, the «G. Verdi» Band of Rivodutri, and bagpipers
- Underwater torchlight procession by the Rieti Divers Club inside the spring
- Traditional sweets and mulled wine offered by local associations
December 14, 2025 to January 6, 2026 — Christmas in Rivodutri
- Evening opening of the underwater nativity scene with dedicated lighting, every day, free admission
- Santa Claus House with letter drop-off for children
- Entertainment for children: face painting, giant bubbles, balloon sculptures, cotton candy, and popcorn
- Trail of corten steel silhouettes in the spring park, from the knight to the washerwoman, leading to the submerged Nativity
- Concerts, choirs, and events organized by local schools, parishes, and associations
Highlights Rivodutri Underwater Nativity Scene 2026
- 30th-anniversary edition: the Rivodutri underwater nativity scene turns thirty
- The only nativity scene in Central Italy set inside a spring, a natural monument of Lazio
- Fiberglass statues about 1.5 meters tall, placed at a depth of four meters
- Underwater torchlight procession by the Rieti Divers Club
- Blessing by the Bishop of Rieti, Monsignor Vito Piccinonna
- Free visit, particularly evocative after sunset
Prices Rivodutri Underwater Nativity Scene 2026
Practical information — Rivodutri Underwater Nativity Scene
Location
Santa Susanna Spring, Piedicolle area, Rivodutri (RI), Lazio. The spring park is located a few minutes from the town center and has a parking area.
How to get there
By car: from Rieti, take the SS79 north toward Rivodutri, about 15 km (20 minutes). From Rome, follow the SS4 Salaria to Rieti, then the road to Rivodutri: allow about two hours. From Terni, the distance is about 40 km.
By train and bus: the reference station is Rieti, served by the Terni-Rieti-L'Aquila-Sulmona line; from Rieti, continue with Cotral suburban buses toward Rivodutri. During peak days, however, a car is recommended.
Admission and hours
Visiting the underwater nativity scene is free throughout the opening period, from the inauguration until January 6th. The underwater lighting makes the visit particularly evocative in the evening hours.
Tips
The park floor can be damp and slippery: closed shoes with good soles are recommended. In December, the temperature drops rapidly after sunset, so it is best to bring warm clothing. For overnight stays, the widest range of options is in Rieti; in the Rivodutri area and the Holy Valley, there are plenty of farmhouses and small family-run establishments.
Information
Municipality of Rivodutri, Piazza del Municipio — official website comune.rivodutri.ri.it
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Where does it take place — Rivodutri Underwater Nativity Scene
Sorgente di Santa Susanna
Via Santa Susanna, località Piedicolle, 02010 Rivodutri