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Domusnovas: 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 Domusnovas

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 Cagliari 0, Domusnovas.

Domusnovas, near Iglesias and the San Giovanni cave

Driving from Cagliari along the SS130 main road, you reach Domusnovas just before Iglesias, at the foot of the hills that close off the Cixerri valley to the north. The town is best known for the San Giovanni cave, a natural tunnel several hundred metres long that cars could once drive through. All around lies the old mining country of south-west Sardinia, and the closure of the mines weighed on the local economy for a long time.

The population is shrinking. In 2023 there were 5,801 residents, down 9.6% on 2011, or 615 fewer people, according to Istat, the national statistics office. Even so, Domusnovas is in position 5 by size among the 24 municipalities of the province. The average age of 49.4 is a little below the provincial 50.6, and over-65s make up 28.3% against 31.0%. Foreign residents are very few, at 0.7%. Average incomes are slightly above the provincial figure.

In a town that is losing people, much of what comes on the market is family houses of one or two storeys, built decades ago and in need of work. Before making an offer, have someone check the roof, damp in the walls and the wiring and plumbing, and make sure the cadastral floor plan matches what is actually there.

Earthquakes are a minor concern here. Every municipality in the province is in seismic zone 4, the lowest band in the national classification, and expected ground acceleration is about 0.050 g. Climate zone C means mild winters and lower heating bills than in northern Italy.

The Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate) publishes cadastral maps for Domusnovas. At the foot of the hills and near watercourses, landslide and flood hazard varies from street to street, so the report reads it for the exact address, along with distances to schools, the pharmacy and shops.

Key points

  • On the SS130 just before Iglesias, home to the San Giovanni cave.
  • 5,801 residents, down 9.6% since 2011.
  • Whole province in seismic zone 4; acceleration about 0.050 g.
  • Older family houses: check roof, damp and services first.

Overview

Domusnovas is a municipality in the province of Sulcis Iglesiente, in Sardegna. At the end of 2023 it had 5,801 residents, ranked 5 of 24 municipalities in the province.

Earthquakes

For Italy's Civil Protection Department, Domusnovas 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 9.6%. The estimated average age is 49 years, in line with the province. 28% of residents are over 65 (the regional figure is 27%). Foreign residents make up 0.7% of the population. On average, a household has 2.3 members.

Income and climate

In tax year 2024, taxpayers in Domusnovas declared an average taxable income of 20,095 euros, above the provincial average (19,085 euros). The Italian average is 24,895 euros.

Domusnovas is in climate zone C, with 1,148 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 152 metres above sea level.

Services

In the official Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health lists, Domusnovas has 6 schools and 2 pharmacies. The Overture Maps data also lists 5 grocery shops and supermarkets, 1 healthcare facility, 1 sports facility 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 2.2% of the land in Domusnovas, compared with 3.4% in the region. In 2024 built-up land grew by 4.5 hectares.

Radon and contaminated sites

Domusnovas is not among the radon priority areas designated by the Regione Sardegna in 2022. 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.

Landslides and flooding

Landslide and flood hazard changes from one street to the next even within Domusnovas: 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 Domusnovas 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 Domusnovas. Half of the residents live in areas scoring 83 or more.

Residents by band

  • good 43.6%
  • very good 56.4%

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 119005. The text on this page is generated automatically from the data.