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Salemi: what to know before buying a home

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

Liveability index free for any address

Search for an address in Salemi

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 Antonino Lo Presti 1, Salemi.

Salemi, a castle and old town on a hill inland from Trapani

Salemi sits on a hill at almost four hundred and fifty metres, inland in the province of Trapani in western Sicily, between the coast around Marsala and Mazara del Vallo and the Belice valley. At the top stands the Norman and Swabian castle, with the historic centre packed around it. In 1860, during the Expedition of the Thousand, Garibaldi proclaimed himself dictator of Sicily here, which is why Salemi likes to recall that it was, for one day, the first capital of Italy.

The Belice earthquake of 1968 hit Salemi hard and part of the old town was abandoned. Over the years the council has tried to bring people back into those houses by handing over empty buildings for a token sum, on condition that they are restored. If you buy there, the gap between a house ready to live in and a ruin is huge: you need a surveyor, a realistic quote and checks on ownership and restrictions before signing. The newer areas outside the centre are easier for cars and services.

There were 9,942 residents in 2023, down 8.5% since 2011, as many young people leave to study or work. The estimated average age is 47.4, and over-65s make up 27.0% against 24.7% in the province. Declared incomes are below the provincial average.

Salemi is in seismic zone 1, the highest class, together with 5 other municipalities in the province. The estimated ground acceleration for the built-up area, about 0.090 g, is lower than the zone might suggest, but the history of the Belice calls for caution: for a masonry building, always ask whether it was repaired or strengthened after 1968 and under which permits.

The climate is that of inland Sicily, with hot summers and mild winters. On the slopes of the hill the report checks the landslide maps for the exact address and finds the plot using the Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate) cadastral maps.

Key points

  • Hill town inland from Trapani, with a castle and old centre.
  • Population down 8.5% since 2011; over-65s at 27.0%.
  • Seismic zone 1, estimated acceleration about 0.090 g.
  • Old-town houses often need restoring: get a surveyor before signing.

Overview

Salemi is a municipality in the province of Trapani, in Sicilia. At the end of 2023 it had 9,942 residents, ranked 11 of 25 municipalities in the province.

Earthquakes

For Italy's Civil Protection Department, Salemi is in seismic zone 1, the highest-risk zone, where very strong earthquakes are possible. Only 6 of 25 municipalities in the province are in zone 1.

In the built-up area, the expected ground shaking (peak ground acceleration, PGA) is about 0.090 g, a moderate value: the level with a 10% probability of being exceeded in 50 years, on rock.

For anyone buying in Salemi, 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 8.5%. The estimated average age is 47 years, in line with the province. 27% of residents are over 65 (the regional figure is 23%). Foreign residents make up 6.4% of the population. On average, a household has 2.2 members.

Income and climate

In tax year 2024, taxpayers in Salemi declared an average taxable income of 16,807 euros, below the provincial average (18,927 euros). The Italian average is 24,895 euros.

Salemi is in climate zone C, with 1,203 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 446 metres above sea level.

Services

In the official Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health lists, Salemi has 13 schools and 4 pharmacies. The Overture Maps data also lists 10 grocery shops and supermarkets, 5 healthcare facilities and 3 sports facilities.

There are 1.0 grocery shops and supermarkets per 1,000 residents, more than the province average (0.7).

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 3.7% of the land in Salemi, compared with 7.9% in the province and 6.6% in the region. In 2024 built-up land grew by 7.0 hectares.

Radon and contaminated sites

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.

Official databases list no open contaminated sites in Salemi; 5 have been cleaned up or closed.

Landslides and flooding

Landslide and flood hazard changes from one street to the next even within Salemi: 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 Salemi 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 64 inhabited census areas in Salemi. 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 081018. The text on this page is generated automatically from the data.