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Carloforte: what to know before buying a home

A municipality in the province of Sulcis Iglesiente, Sardegna. Official data on earthquakes, population, services and transport.

Liveability index free for any address

Search for an address in Carloforte

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 Roma 1, Carloforte.

Carloforte, San Pietro island and its Ligurian-rooted town

On the island of San Pietro, off the south-western coast of Sardinia, there is only one town: Carloforte. It was founded in the eighteenth century by families of Ligurian origin who came from Tabarka, in Tunisia, and people here still speak Tabarchino, a variety of Genoese. The colourful houses along the harbour, the salt pans and the tradition of tuna fishing make it a well-known summer destination.

Island life changes the sums. The only way in is by ferry, from Calasetta on the island of Sant'Antioco or from Portovesme, and that affects everything: hospital appointments, offices, work, and getting materials and builders over for any renovation. In summer the population multiplies, and many homes are second homes or holiday lets; in winter the town is quiet and some services slow down. Average incomes are above the figure for the province of Sulcis Iglesiente.

Istat, the national statistics office, counted 5,919 residents in 2023, down 6.1% since 2011. The population is elderly, with an average age of 51.1 and over-65s at 31.5%, and households are small, 1.90 people on average. Foreign residents make up 2.1%.

Earthquake risk is minimal. All 24 municipalities in the province are in seismic zone 4, the lowest level in the Civil Protection classification, and the expected ground acceleration is about 0.050 g. The real enemy of buildings is salt air: render, balcony ironwork and window frames wear out quickly, and in a house near the sea they deserve a careful look.

The Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate) publishes cadastral maps, and the report finds the land parcel from the address. In the low-lying areas near the shore and the salt pans, flood hazard is also worth checking for the individual address.

Key points

  • The only town on San Pietro island, founded by settlers from Tabarka.
  • Reached by ferry from Calasetta or Portovesme.
  • Over-65s at 31.5%, households of 1.90 people.
  • Seismic zone 4: salt air is the main threat to buildings.

Overview

Carloforte is a municipality in the province of Sulcis Iglesiente, in Sardegna. At the end of 2023 it had 5,919 residents, ranked 4 of 24 municipalities in the province.

Earthquakes

For Italy's Civil Protection Department, Carloforte is in seismic zone 4, the lowest-risk zone, where strong earthquakes are very rare. All 24 municipalities in the province are in the same zone.

In the built-up area, the expected ground shaking (peak ground acceleration, PGA) is about 0.050 g, a moderate value: the level with a 10% probability of being exceeded in 50 years, on rock.

In zone 4 the risk is low, but for an older building it is still worth asking about the state of the structure.

Population

Compared with the 2011 census, the resident population has fallen by 6.1%. The estimated average age is 51 years, in line with the province. 32% of residents are over 65 (the regional figure is 27%). Foreign residents make up 2.1% of the population. On average, a household has 1.9 members.

Income and climate

In tax year 2024, taxpayers in Carloforte declared an average taxable income of 21,284 euros, above the provincial average (19,085 euros). The Italian average is 24,895 euros.

Carloforte is in climate zone B, with 789 heating degree days: heating may be switched on from 1 December to 31 March, for up to 8 hours a day. The same table puts the town hall at 10 metres above sea level.

Services

In the official Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health lists, Carloforte has 5 schools and 2 pharmacies. The Overture Maps data also lists 5 grocery shops and supermarkets, 1 healthcare facility, 4 sports facilities and 1 green area.

There are 0.2 healthcare facilities per 1,000 residents, fewer than the province average (0.5).

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 5.5% of the land in Carloforte, compared with 3.4% in the region. In 2024 built-up land stayed almost the same.

Radon and contaminated sites

Carloforte is not among the radon priority areas designated by the Regione Sardegna in 2022. Radon varies from building to building and can only be known by measuring it, especially on ground floors and in basements.

Landslides and flooding

Landslide and flood hazard changes from one street to the next even within Carloforte: 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 Carloforte 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 35 inhabited census areas in Carloforte. Half of the residents live in areas scoring 86 or more.

Residents by band

  • fair 14.6%
  • good 24.6%
  • very good 60.8%

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 119004. The text on this page is generated automatically from the data.