Skip to content
Vicinalia
Italiano Sign up

Acquaro: what to know before buying a home

A municipality in the province of Vibo Valentia, Calabria. Official data on earthquakes, population, services and transport.

Liveability index free for any address

Search for an address in Acquaro

The report looks at the exact point: landslide and flood risk, seismic zone, price per square metre for the area, services and nearby stops.

For example: Via Pasquale Stramandinoli 1, Acquaro.

Acquaro, at the foot of the Serre hills near Vibo

Acquaro is a village inland from Vibo Valentia, at around 260 metres, in the hill country where the plain rises towards the forests of the Serre. Around it are olive groves and vegetable plots, with mountains covered in beech and fir further up. Vibo and the Tyrrhenian coast are the reference for work, secondary schools and healthcare.

The village has lost many residents: there were 1,830 in 2023, down 25.2% on the 2011 census, or 618 fewer people. The average age has risen to 50.2, against 45.5 in the province, and over-65s make up 33.0%. Foreign residents account for 0.8%.

The market is mostly village houses in masonry or reinforced concrete, often built in stages. Before signing, have the real condition of the building assessed, including the wiring and plumbing, and check that the building records and the cadastre match what you see. Declared incomes are below the provincial average.

The most important point is seismic. All 50 municipalities in the province of Vibo Valentia are in seismic zone 1, the most severe class, and in Acquaro the expected ground acceleration is 0.263 g. Have a surveyor check the structural design, inspection certificate and concrete quality before making an offer.

The climate zone is C. The Revenue Agency cadastral maps are published: from the address the report finds the land parcel and shows slope and the official landslide and flood maps.

Key points

  • Hill village inland from Vibo, below the Serre.
  • All 50 municipalities in the province in seismic zone 1.
  • Population down 25.2% since 2011.
  • Homes built in stages: check real condition and records.

Overview

Acquaro is a municipality in the province of Vibo Valentia, in Calabria. At the end of 2023 it had 1,830 residents, ranked 25 of 50 municipalities in the province.

Earthquakes

For Italy's Civil Protection Department, Acquaro is in seismic zone 1, the highest-risk zone, where very strong earthquakes are possible. All 50 municipalities in the province are in the same zone.

In the built-up area, the expected ground shaking (peak ground acceleration, PGA) is about 0.263 g, a high value: the level with a 10% probability of being exceeded in 50 years, on rock.

For anyone buying in Acquaro, the building matters a great deal: ask for the design year, whether it met the 2008 seismic standards, and whether any seismic retrofit has been carried out.

Population

Compared with the 2011 census, the resident population has fallen by 25.2%. The estimated average age is 50 years, higher than the province average (46). 33% of residents are over 65 (the regional figure is 24%). Foreign residents make up 0.8% of the population. On average, a household has 2.2 members.

Income and climate

In tax year 2024, taxpayers in Acquaro declared an average taxable income of 14,502 euros, below the provincial average (17,878 euros). The Italian average is 24,895 euros.

Acquaro is in climate zone C, with 1,299 heating degree days: heating may be switched on from 15 November to 31 March, for up to 10 hours a day. The same table puts the town hall at 262 metres above sea level.

Services

In the official Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health lists, Acquaro has 6 schools and 1 pharmacy.

The data shows no grocery shops and supermarkets within the municipality, against a provincial average of 0.6 per 1,000 residents.

Public transport

We do not yet have open public transport timetables for this municipality: the report says so explicitly, without inventing distances.

How built-up it is

Buildings, roads, car parks and other sealed surfaces cover 3.4% of the land in Acquaro, compared with 5.9% in the province and 5.1% in the region. In 2024 built-up land stayed almost the same.

Radon and contaminated sites

Official databases list no contaminated sites in Acquaro.

Landslides and flooding

Landslide and flood hazard changes from one street to the next even within Acquaro: the report checks the address against the ISPRA maps.

House prices

The Revenue Agency's price ranges per square metre (OMI) apply to zones, not to whole municipalities: the report gives the range for the address's zone.

Land registry

The cadastral maps for Acquaro are public: from the address the report finds the sheet and parcel number.

Liveability area by area

The Vicinalia liveability index runs from 0 to 100 and looks at the place, not the people who live there: services within walking distance, transport, green space, natural hazards, air, quiet, buildings and connection. Here it is worked out at the centre of each of the 27 inhabited census areas in Acquaro. Half of the residents live in areas scoring 55 or more.

Residents by band

  • fair 100.0%

Vicinalia index by census area, licence CC BY-SA 4.0. Data: IdroGEO ISPRA (2026), Istat, INGV, EEA, AGCOM, Overture Maps and OpenStreetMap.

The colour is the value at the centre of the area. For an exact address, search for it above: the free check looks at that exact point. How the index is worked out

Data sources

ISTAT code 102001. The text on this page is generated automatically from the data.