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Motta Camastra: what to know before buying a home

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

Liveability index free for any address

Search for an address in Motta Camastra

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: Corso Umberto Primo 1, Motta Camastra.

Motta Camastra, above the Alcantara valley

The Alcantara valley separates Mount Etna from the Peloritani mountains, and Motta Camastra stands on the Messina side, on a rise overlooking the river, with the volcano opposite. The river is known for its gorges cut into lava, and the valley is protected as the Alcantara River Park. The town hall is at about 450 metres and the village is small, with tightly packed houses and steep streets.

Buyers here are usually after a village house or a rural building in the countryside, often in need of work. For everyday needs people go down the valley and towards the Ionian coast, where there are more services and the main transport links. There are 10.13 cafés and restaurants per 1,000 residents, against 5.73 in the province of Messina: tourism linked to the river is felt here too. Within the park there are specific rules on building work, which you should ask about before buying.

At the end of 2023 there were 790 residents, down 10.4% on 2011. The population is elderly: an average age of 49.3 against 46.7 in the province, with over-65s at 30.4% against 25.2%. Foreign residents make up 4.2% and declared incomes are below the provincial average.

Motta Camastra is in seismic zone 2, like 91 of the 108 municipalities in the province, with an expected ground acceleration of about 0.205 g. For a stone house in the centre, find out when the roof and floors were redone and whether they are tied into the walls.

The Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate) cadastral maps exist, and the report goes from the street address to the land parcel. Along the river and on the slopes, flood and landslide hazard are checked on the official maps for the exact spot.

Key points

  • Messina side of the Alcantara valley, facing Mount Etna.
  • Over-65s at 30.4%, against 25.2% in the province.
  • Population down 10.4% since 2011.
  • Seismic zone 2, expected acceleration about 0.205 g.

Overview

Motta Camastra is a municipality in the province of Messina, in Sicilia. At the end of 2023 it had 790 residents, ranked 90 of 108 municipalities in the province.

Earthquakes

For Italy's Civil Protection Department, Motta Camastra is in seismic zone 2, a zone where strong earthquakes are possible. Most municipalities in the province (91 of 108) are in the same zone.

In the built-up area, the expected ground shaking (peak ground acceleration, PGA) is about 0.205 g, a medium-high value: the level with a 10% probability of being exceeded in 50 years, on rock.

For anyone buying in Motta Camastra, 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 10.4%. The estimated average age is 49 years, higher than the province average (47). 30% of residents are over 65 (the regional figure is 23%). Foreign residents make up 4.2% of the population. On average, a household has 1.8 members.

Income and climate

In tax year 2024, taxpayers in Motta Camastra declared an average taxable income of 15,316 euros, below the provincial average (20,687 euros). The Italian average is 24,895 euros.

Motta Camastra is in climate zone D, with 1,401 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 453 metres above sea level.

Services

In the official Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health lists, Motta Camastra has 3 schools and 1 pharmacy. The Overture Maps data also lists 2 parks and green areas.

The data shows no grocery shops and supermarkets within the municipality, against a provincial average of 0.6 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 2.7% of the land in Motta Camastra, compared with 6.0% in the province and 6.6% in the region. In 2024 built-up land stayed almost the same.

Radon and contaminated sites

Official databases list no contaminated sites in Motta Camastra.

Landslides and flooding

Landslide and flood hazard changes from one street to the next even within Motta Camastra: 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 Motta Camastra 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 11 inhabited census areas in Motta Camastra. Half of the residents live in areas scoring 65 or more.

Residents by band

  • fair 44.1%
  • good 55.9%

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 083058. The text on this page is generated automatically from the data.