Mappale

Mappale and particella mean the same thing: the number of the plot on the land registry map. The name comes from the map itself (mappa), and you often see it in deeds, building plans and surveyors' documents; the land registry searches of the Agenzia delle Entrate use "particella" instead.

The mappale alone does not identify a property: it goes with the municipality, the section where there is one and the sheet. When a deed says "foglio 12, mappale 345" it means plot 345 on sheet 12 of that municipality.

Where to find it:

• in the purchase deed or the preliminary contract, and in the land registry search (visura catastale);
• on the cadastral map of the Agenzia delle Entrate, by looking up the area;
• in the report: from the address it finds the plot and gives its sheet and mappale.

The mappale describes the plot, not the individual flat: a block of flats usually stands on a single mappale, and each unit inside it has its own subalterno.