Vallecrosia: what to know before buying a home
A municipality in the province of Imperia, Liguria. Official data on earthquakes, population, services and transport.
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Search for an address in Vallecrosia
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 Col Aprosio 1, Vallecrosia.
Vallecrosia, between Bordighera and Ventimiglia on the Riviera
On the western Ligurian Riviera, in the province of Imperia, Vallecrosia occupies a narrow strip between Bordighera to the east and Camporosso to the west, with Ventimiglia and the French border just beyond. The municipality follows a small valley running down to the sea. Down below is the modern part, with the Via Aurelia coast road, blocks of flats, shops and a few greenhouses left from the days when the area lived off flower growing. Up on the hill, Vallecrosia Alta keeps the old village of narrow houses and stepped lanes.
The climate is among the mildest in Italy (climate zone C), which is why many homes have been bought as second homes or winter retreats, including by foreigners. For work, people look to Sanremo, Bordighera and the Côte d'Azur: Monaco and Nice are close, and many people in the area work across the border. The coast is almost completely built up, so parking is worth factoring in when you look at a flat.
The population is slowly shrinking: 6,776 residents in 2023, down 3.6% on 2011. The average age of 48.6 is in line with the province, one of the oldest in Italy, and over-65s make up 29.1%. Foreign residents account for 9.8%. Declared incomes are below the provincial average.
The municipality is in seismic zone 3 on the Civil Protection department's map, with an expected ground acceleration of about 0.131 g. Western Liguria is not immune to earthquakes: the one in 1887 damaged many towns along the Riviera. In the old hilltop village, where stone houses lean on each other, ask about the state of walls and floors; in blocks by the sea, about reinforcement and concrete exposed to salt air.
On the terraced slopes and along the stream through the town, landslide and flood hazard depend on the exact spot. The report checks them for the address and uses the Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate) cadastral maps to trace the plot.
Key points
- Western Riviera, between Bordighera and Ventimiglia, near France.
- Mild climate, climate zone C.
- Over-65s at 29.1%; population down 3.6%.
- Seismic zone 3, acceleration about 0.131 g.
Overview
Vallecrosia is a municipality in the province of Imperia, in Liguria. At the end of 2023 it had 6,776 residents, among the most populous in the province (6 of 66).
Earthquakes
For Italy's Civil Protection Department, Vallecrosia is in seismic zone 3, a zone where strong earthquakes are possible but rare. Most municipalities in the province (36 of 66) are in the same zone.
In the built-up area, the expected ground shaking (peak ground acceleration, PGA) is about 0.131 g, a moderate value: the level with a 10% probability of being exceeded in 50 years, on rock.
Even in zone 3, seismic standards apply to new buildings: for an older building, ask about the design year and any structural work.
Population
Compared with the 2011 census, the resident population has fallen by 3.6%. The estimated average age is 49 years, in line with the province. 29% of residents are over 65 (the regional figure is 29%). Foreign residents make up 9.8% of the population. On average, a household has 2.1 members.
Income and climate
In tax year 2024, taxpayers in Vallecrosia declared an average taxable income of 19,708 euros, below the provincial average (21,487 euros). The Italian average is 24,895 euros.
Vallecrosia is in climate zone C, with 1,109 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 5 metres above sea level.
Services
In the official Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health lists, Vallecrosia has 3 schools and 2 pharmacies. The Overture Maps data also lists 6 grocery shops and supermarkets, 7 healthcare facilities and 3 sports facilities.
There are 0.4 schools per 1,000 residents, fewer than the province average (1.0).
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 32.7% of the land in Vallecrosia, compared with 6.4% in the province and 7.3% in the region. In 2024 built-up land stayed almost the same.
Radon and contaminated sites
Vallecrosia is not among the radon priority areas designated by the Regione Liguria in 2026. 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 Vallecrosia; one has been cleaned up or closed.
Landslides and flooding
Landslide and flood hazard changes from one street to the next even within Vallecrosia: 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 Vallecrosia 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 28 inhabited census areas in Vallecrosia. Half of the residents live in areas scoring 63 or more.
Residents by band
- modest 2.5%
- fair 49.2%
- good 48.3%
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
- Seismic classification of municipalities, Dipartimento della Protezione Civile. Licence CC BY 4.0, updated to 2025-05.
- MPS04 seismic hazard model, INGV. Licence CC BY 4.0, 2004 model.
- Data by census section, Istat. Licence CC BY 4.0, residents at the end of 2023, compared with the 2011 census.
- Places, Overture Maps Foundation. Licence CDLA Permissive 2.0 and others depending on provider, release 2026-10-21.0.
- Income and main IRPEF variables by municipality, MEF, Dipartimento delle Finanze. Licence CC BY 3.0 IT, tax year 2024.
- Climate zones and heating degree days of municipalities (Presidential Decree 412/1993, Annex A), Normattiva. Licence CC BY 4.0, current text.
- Land take, territorial dynamics and ecosystem services, ISPRA e SNPA. Licence CC BY 4.0, 2024 data.
- Predictive radon map by municipality, ISPRA. Licence CC BY 4.0, version 2022-11.
- Radon priority areas (Legislative Decree 101/2020), Regione Liguria, national list compiled by ARPA Lombardia. Licence Atto pubblico (art. 5 L. 633/1941), 2026.
- Contaminated sites, ISPRA, MOSAICO - Banca dati nazionale dei siti oggetto di procedimento di bonifica. Licence CC BY 4.0, updated to 12 November 2026.
- Liveability index by census area, Vicinalia, from the data in the report sections. Licence CC BY-SA 4.0, worked out on 30 September 2026.
- List of Italian municipalities, Istat. Licence CC BY 4.0, updated to 21 February 2026.
ISTAT code 008063. The text on this page is generated automatically from the data.