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Rapolla: what to know before buying a home

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

Liveability index free for any address

Search for an address in Rapolla

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 dei Platani 1, Rapolla.

Rapolla, spa waters and the Vulture hills

Rapolla is one of the towns of the Vulture, the long-extinct volcano in the north of Basilicata, a few kilometres from Melfi. The town has known its thermal springs for a long time, and the land around it is covered with vineyards: this is Aglianico del Vulture wine country. In the historic centre stands the co-cathedral, linked with the diocese of Melfi.

Much of the local work revolves around the San Nicola di Melfi industrial area, with its large car plant, which is a short drive away. Rapolla's market includes both old houses in the centre, often needing work, and more recent blocks of flats and detached homes on the edges. Potenza is further off, about an hour by road. The town is on a hill, so sloping streets need weighing up when choosing.

In 2023 there were 4,137 residents, down 6.6% on 2011. The population is younger than the Basilicata norm: an average age of 44.0 against 47.3 for the province of Potenza, and over-65s at 20.6% against 25.7%. Foreign residents account for 2.4%. Declared incomes remain below the provincial average.

In a province where 40 municipalities are in seismic zone 1 of the Civil Protection classification, Rapolla is in zone 2, with an expected ground acceleration in the built-up area of about 0.186 g. That is still a medium-high value: for masonry houses in the centre, it is important to know whether strengthening work has been done and with what surveys, and for newer ones to ask for the structural design.

The Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate) cadastral maps are published. On the slopes of the Vulture the ground can slip, and the report checks the maps for the chosen address.

Key points

  • Vulture town a few km from Melfi, with thermal springs.
  • San Nicola di Melfi industrial area close by.
  • 4,137 residents, average age 44.0.
  • Seismic zone 2, expected acceleration about 0.186 g.

Overview

Rapolla is a municipality in the province of Potenza, in Basilicata. At the end of 2023 it had 4,137 residents, ranked 20 of 100 municipalities in the province.

Earthquakes

For Italy's Civil Protection Department, Rapolla is in seismic zone 2, a zone where strong earthquakes are possible. The region uses a finer breakdown: here the classification is 2b. Most municipalities in the province (59 of 100) are in the same zone.

In the built-up area, the expected ground shaking (peak ground acceleration, PGA) is about 0.186 g, a medium-high value: the level with a 10% probability of being exceeded in 50 years, on rock.

For anyone buying in Rapolla, 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 6.6%. The estimated average age is 44 years, lower than the province average (47). 21% of residents are over 65 (the regional figure is 25%). Foreign residents make up 2.4% of the population. On average, a household has 2.3 members.

Income and climate

In tax year 2024, taxpayers in Rapolla declared an average taxable income of 17,980 euros, below the provincial average (20,337 euros). The Italian average is 24,895 euros.

Rapolla is in climate zone D, with 1,676 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 439 metres above sea level.

Services

In the official Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health lists, Rapolla has 4 schools and 1 pharmacy. The Overture Maps data also lists 3 grocery shops and supermarkets, 1 healthcare facility, 1 sports facility and 2 parks and green areas.

There are 0.2 healthcare facilities per 1,000 residents, fewer than the province average (0.6).

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 5.5% of the land in Rapolla, compared with 3.5% in the province and 3.2% in the region. In 2024 built-up land stayed almost the same.

Radon and contaminated sites

Official databases list no contaminated sites in Rapolla.

Landslides and flooding

Landslide and flood hazard changes from one street to the next even within Rapolla: 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 Rapolla 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 24 inhabited census areas in Rapolla. Half of the residents live in areas scoring 70 or more.

Residents by band

  • fair 34.6%
  • good 49.6%
  • very good 15.9%

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 076064. The text on this page is generated automatically from the data.