21 nuns escape massive fire in nearly 400-year-old Italian monastery

The monastery, which dates back to 1628, housed valuable religious artifacts and paintings, many of which are feared lost. (Image credit: @CatholicVote/X)

A massive fire broke out late Saturday at the historic Bernaga Monastery in La Valletta Brianza, northern Italy, forcing 21 cloistered nuns to flee the 17th-century religious site. The monastery is known as the place where recently canonised Saint Carlo Acutis received his First Communion.

Blaze likely caused by short circuit
According to a Facebook post by regional councillor Massimo Sertori, the fire is believed to have started due to a short circuit in one of the cells occupied by Ambrosian hermit nuns. The flames quickly engulfed the structure, destroying the roof and causing what local officials described as “immense, incalculable damage.”

The monastery, which dates back to 1628, housed valuable religious artifacts and paintings, many of which are feared lost. Sertori confirmed “serious damage to the structure where premium paintings were kept.”

On the very day of St. Carlo Acutis’ first feast day, a massive fire has devastated the 17th-century Monastery of Bernaga—where he received his First Communion.

All 22 cloistered nuns escaped safely, but the historic convent lies in ruins.

An immeasurable loss. pic.twitter.com/O9qHlbLVwE

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Nuns evacuated, two hospitalised
All 21 nuns living at the monastery were safely evacuated. Nineteen have been temporarily relocated to a religious facility in Ponte Lambro, while two were hospitalised for unspecified injuries. Sertori thanked the fire brigade for their swift response, noting that nine teams from Lecco, Monza Brianza, and Como were deployed to contain the blaze.

Site linked to first millennial saint
The Bernaga Monastery holds special significance for Catholics as the site where Saint Carlo Acutis, the first millennial to be canonised, received his First Communion. Acutis, who died of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15, was canonised on September 7. He is remembered for using digital tools to document Eucharistic miracles around the world.

Mayor calls fire a disaster
Marco Panzeri, mayor of La Valletta Brianza, described the fire as “a disaster” and said the damage to the monastery was “incalculable.” Restoration efforts are expected to be complex, given the age of the structure and the cultural value of the items lost.