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Gerace: what to know before buying a home

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

Liveability index free for any address

Search for an address in Gerace

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 Azzuria 1, Gerace.

Gerace, the hilltop town above Locri

From the Ionian coast of the Locride you can see Gerace high up, built on a rocky outcrop at about five hundred metres. It is one of the best-known historic towns in Calabria: the large cathedral of Norman origin, the churches, the remains of the castle and the stone streets draw visitors all year. Locri, with the station and the main services, lies down on the coast, a short drive below.

Buying in Gerace nearly always means choosing an old house. In the historic core the buildings are stone, often on several levels, with narrow access and little parking; around the town and further down there are newer homes and farmland. Before signing, check the roof, damp, the wiring and plumbing, and any planning restrictions, which in a protected historic centre can slow down building work.

Earthquakes are the point not to overlook. All 97 municipalities in the province of Reggio Calabria are in seismic zone 1, the highest class set by the Civil Protection Department, and the expected ground acceleration in Gerace is 0.208 g. For an old masonry house, ask whether it has been strengthened and have a surveyor check how walls, floors and roof are tied together.

The population is falling. Istat, the national statistics institute, counts 2,313 residents in 2023, down 16.6% since 2011. The average age is 46.1 and foreign residents make up 1.0%. Declared incomes are below the provincial average.

The report checks the official landslide and slope maps for the address, starting from the cadastral maps that the Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate) publishes for Gerace.

Key points

  • Historic town on a rocky outcrop above the Locride coast.
  • Old stone houses: check roof, damp and planning limits.
  • All 97 local municipalities in seismic zone 1.
  • Residents down 16.6% since 2011.

Overview

Gerace is a municipality in the province of Reggio Calabria, in Calabria. At the end of 2023 it had 2,313 residents, ranked 45 of 97 municipalities in the province.

Earthquakes

For Italy's Civil Protection Department, Gerace is in seismic zone 1, the highest-risk zone, where very strong earthquakes are possible. All 97 municipalities in the province are in the same zone.

In the built-up area, the expected ground shaking (peak ground acceleration, PGA) is about 0.208 g, a medium-high value: the level with a 10% probability of being exceeded in 50 years, on rock.

For anyone buying in Gerace, 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 16.6%. The estimated average age is 46 years, in line with the province. 25% of residents are over 65 (the regional figure is 24%). Foreign residents make up 1.0% of the population. On average, a household has 2.3 members.

Income and climate

In tax year 2024, taxpayers in Gerace declared an average taxable income of 16,236 euros, below the provincial average (19,157 euros). The Italian average is 24,895 euros.

Gerace is in climate zone D, with 1,699 heating degree days: heating may be switched on from 1 November to 15 April, for up to 12 hours a day. The same table puts the town hall at 500 metres above sea level.

Services

In the official Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health lists, Gerace has 5 schools and 1 pharmacy. The Overture Maps data also lists 4 grocery shops and supermarkets and 1 green area.

The data shows no healthcare facilities within the municipality, against a provincial average of 0.5 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 4.6% of the land in Gerace, compared with 5.8% 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 Gerace.

Landslides and flooding

Landslide and flood hazard changes from one street to the next even within Gerace: 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 Gerace 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 44 inhabited census areas in Gerace. Half of the residents live in areas scoring 58 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 080036. The text on this page is generated automatically from the data.