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Dolcedo: what to know before buying a home

A municipality in the province of Imperia, Liguria. Official data on earthquakes, population, services and transport.

Liveability index free for any address

Search for an address in Dolcedo

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 Garibaldi 1, Dolcedo.

Dolcedo, bridges over the Prino inland from Imperia

The Prino stream runs through Dolcedo under old stone bridges, and the village grew up along its banks, on the valley floor that climbs inland from the coast at Porto Maurizio. All around, the slopes are covered with terraced olive groves: this is olive oil country, and the municipality's hamlets are spread over the hills among the trees. Imperia and the sea are a few kilometres away by car down the valley.

In 2023 there were 1,267 residents, according to Istat, the national statistics office, down 12.7% from 1,451 in 2011. The average age of 48.4 is close to the provincial 48.7, and over-65s are 26.8% against 28.5%. Foreign residents make up 13.6%. Declared incomes are below the provincial average.

Buyers in Dolcedo choose between houses in the main village, on the valley floor near the stream, and those in the hill hamlets, sunnier and with views but reached by narrow roads. The climate is mild (zone C) and cold is rarely an issue; damp in stone houses, roofs and the dry-stone walls of the terraces matter more.

Dolcedo is in seismic zone 2, like 29 other municipalities in the province of Imperia, with an expected ground acceleration in the village of 0.157 g. Earthquakes are part of this coast's history, so for an old building ask what structural work has been done.

The Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate) publishes cadastral maps for the municipality, so the report reaches the land parcel. Near the Prino, flood hazard should be checked for the exact spot, while on the hills the slope matters: the report checks both on the official maps for each address.

Key points

  • Olive oil village on the Prino stream, above Imperia.
  • Population down 12.7% since 2011.
  • Foreign residents at 13.6%.
  • Seismic zone 2, expected acceleration 0.157 g.

Overview

Dolcedo is a municipality in the province of Imperia, in Liguria. At the end of 2023 it had 1,267 residents, ranked 18 of 66 municipalities in the province.

Earthquakes

For Italy's Civil Protection Department, Dolcedo is in seismic zone 2, a zone where strong earthquakes are possible. Only 30 of 66 municipalities in the province are in zone 2.

In the built-up area, the expected ground shaking (peak ground acceleration, PGA) is about 0.157 g, a medium-high value: the level with a 10% probability of being exceeded in 50 years, on rock.

For anyone buying in Dolcedo, 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 12.7%. The estimated average age is 48 years, in line with the province. 27% of residents are over 65 (the regional figure is 29%). Foreign residents make up 13.6% of the population. On average, a household has 2.0 members.

Income and climate

In tax year 2024, taxpayers in Dolcedo declared an average taxable income of 19,443 euros, below the provincial average (21,487 euros). The Italian average is 24,895 euros.

Dolcedo is in climate zone C, with 1,362 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 75 metres above sea level.

Services

In the official Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health lists, Dolcedo has 2 schools and 1 pharmacy.

The data shows no grocery shops and supermarkets within the municipality, against a provincial average of 0.9 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 5.0% of the land in Dolcedo, compared with 6.4% in the province and 7.3% in the region. In 2024 built-up land stayed almost the same.

Radon and contaminated sites

Dolcedo is not among the radon priority areas designated by the Regione Liguria in 2026. According to the ISPRA map, the estimated radon emission in the municipality is low. Radon varies from building to building and can only be known by measuring it, especially on ground floors and in basements.

Official databases list no contaminated sites in Dolcedo.

Landslides and flooding

Landslide and flood hazard changes from one street to the next even within Dolcedo: 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 Dolcedo 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 14 inhabited census areas in Dolcedo. Half of the residents live in areas scoring 59 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 008030. The text on this page is generated automatically from the data.