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Fossa: what to know before buying a home

A municipality in the province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo. Official data on earthquakes, population, services and transport.

Liveability index free for any address

Search for an address in Fossa

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, Fossa.

Fossa, the Aterno valley and Santa Maria ad Cryptas

In Fossa, history is underfoot. On the plain along the Aterno river a large Iron Age burial ground has been excavated, and just outside the village the church of Santa Maria ad Cryptas holds a cycle of medieval frescoes. The municipality sits in the middle Aterno valley, at the foot of Monte Ocre, a short way from L'Aquila.

For work, secondary schools and hospital care, L'Aquila is the reference point. In 2023 there were 658 residents, down 4.6% on 2011. The average age is 48.2, close to 47.5 in the province, and over-65s are 25.7% of residents. Foreign residents are 12.8%. Average declared income is a little above the provincial average.

Earthquakes are the main issue for a buyer. Fossa is in seismic zone 1, like 103 of the 108 municipalities in the province of L'Aquila, with an expected ground acceleration in the built-up area of about 0.261 g, a high value. Many buildings in this area have been repaired or rebuilt in recent years: for any house, ask for the structural design, the inspection certificate and the paperwork for any public grants, and have it all checked by an engineer you trust.

Between the upper part of the village, on the slope, and the river plain, other hazards change too. Near the Aterno water is the concern, on the slopes landslides: the report reads both for the address on the official maps. Heating zone E means cold winters.

The Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate) publishes Fossa's cadastral maps, so the report goes from the address to the land parcel and the building.

Key points

  • Middle Aterno valley, a short way from L'Aquila.
  • Seismic zone 1, expected acceleration about 0.261 g.
  • 658 residents, down 4.6% since 2011.
  • For any house: structural design, inspection certificate and permits.

Overview

Fossa is a municipality in the province of L'Aquila, in Abruzzo. At the end of 2023 it had 658 residents, ranked 65 of 108 municipalities in the province.

Earthquakes

For Italy's Civil Protection Department, Fossa is in seismic zone 1, the highest-risk zone, where very strong earthquakes are possible. Most municipalities in the province (103 of 108) are in the same zone.

In the built-up area, the expected ground shaking (peak ground acceleration, PGA) is about 0.261 g, a high value: the level with a 10% probability of being exceeded in 50 years, on rock.

For anyone buying in Fossa, 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 4.6%. The estimated average age is 48 years, in line with the province. 26% of residents are over 65 (the regional figure is 26%). Foreign residents make up 12.8% of the population. On average, a household has 2.1 members.

Income and climate

In tax year 2024, taxpayers in Fossa declared an average taxable income of 24,486 euros, above the provincial average (22,903 euros). The Italian average is 24,895 euros.

Fossa is in climate zone E, with 2,441 heating degree days: heating may be switched on from 15 October to 15 April, for up to 14 hours a day. The same table puts the town hall at 644 metres above sea level.

Services

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

The data shows no grocery shops and supermarkets within the municipality, against a provincial average of 0.7 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 6.1% of the land in Fossa, compared with 3.2% 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 Fossa.

Landslides and flooding

Landslide and flood hazard changes from one street to the next even within Fossa: 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 Fossa 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 6 inhabited census areas in Fossa. Half of the residents live in areas scoring 60 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 066044. The text on this page is generated automatically from the data.