On October 11, 2025, a 17th‑century Monastery in La Valletta Brianza, Lombardy, Italy, has been almost completely destroyed by a massive fire, leaving the historic site in ruins. Founded in 1628, it was home to Ambrosian‑rite cloistered nuns of the Order of St. Ambrose. The monastery is historically significant as the place where Saint Carlo Acutis (canonized in September 2025) received his First Holy Communion on June 16, 1998.
The blaze broke out around 7:30 p.m. (19:30) and spread rapidly through the wooden structure. Nine to ten firefighting teams from nearby towns worked through the night, but the fire destroyed the roof, much of the interior, and large sections of the building. The monastery, founded in 1628, is one of the oldest religious sites in the region and has been home to the Ambrosian‑rite cloistered nuns. All 21–22 cloistered nuns escaped safely, though one 87‑year‑old nun suffered mild smoke inhalation. The sisters were temporarily housed in local facilities and later relocated to other religious homes. The fire occurred while many nuns were watching a live broadcast of a papal prayer vigil.
The fire destroyed priceless artworks, religious artifacts, archives, and manuscripts, along with the nuns’ personal belongings. Some paintings and a relic of St. Carlo Acutis — canonized in 2025 and known for using digital media to share his faith — were saved. The monastery is also notable as the site where Acutis received his First Communion in 1998
Authorities believe an electrical short circuit in a monastic cell may have sparked the blaze, though the cause remains under investigation.
Current Status
The building has been declared uninhabitable and is in ruins. Local officials, including Mayor Marco Panzeri, have called it “a disaster with immense and incalculable damage”.
Restoration is uncertain, and the loss is described as both a cultural and spiritual tragedy for the Ambrosian Church.