The strongest earthquakes ever in Italy from 1000 to 2020

Historical series of the strongest earthquakes ever in Italy

This page shows the strongest earthquakes ever with epicenter in Italy, from 1000 up to present times (year 2020 included). The information refers to a database of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology. In particular, it is the following work: Rovida A., Locati M., Camassi R., Lolli, B., Gasperini P., Antonucci A. 2022. Parametric Catalog of Italian Earthquakes (CPTI15), version 4.0. National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), https://doi.org/10.13127/CPTI/CPTI15.4.4

Only seismic events with a magnitude ≥ 3.5 were selected from the database.

Below the map there is also a table, indicating the date, the denomination of the area of maximum effects and the moment magnitude. Together with the events with an epicenter in Italy, those earthquakes not far from the regional borders have also sometimes been included.

Data from INGV, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, ingv.it

What was the strongest earthquake ever in Italy?

The strongest earthquake ever with its epicenter in Italy was recorded on January 11, 1693 with a magnitude equal to 7.32 (area/city: Sicilia sud-orientale).

Symbols used for earthquake epicenters in Italy

The color of the icons indicates the magnitude.  Yellow: 3.5≤M<4 .  Orange: 4≤M<5 .  Red: 5≤M<6 .  Purple: 6≤M<7 . Black: M≥7 .
Click on the icon to view the details of the seismic event. Below the epicenter map there is a table with a list of the events.


In the database there are 86 earthquakes, 0 of them with 3.5≤Mw<4 (0.0%), 0 with 4≤Mw<5 (0.0%), 0 with 5≤Mw<6 (0.0%), 77 with 6≤Mw<7 (89.5%), 9 with Mw≥7 (10.5%).

More link:
Strongest earthquakes, Italian regions

Strongest earthquakes ever with epicenter in Italy
Strongest earthquakes ever with epicenter in Italy and magnitude ≥5
Strongest earthquakes ever with epicenter in Italy and magnitude ≥6
Strongest earthquakes ever with epicenter in Italy and magnitude ≥7


Tables of the earthquakes since 1000 a.d. with epicenters in Italy

By clicking on the header of each column it is possible to sort the events as you like (for example, in chronological order). By default they are sorted by decreasing magnitude.


# Data Evento Area Epicentro Magnitudo
1 January 11, 1693Sicilia sud-orientale7.32
2 December 5, 1456Appennino centro-meridionale7.19
3 December 16, 1857Basilicata7.12
4 February 5, 1783Calabria meridionale7.1
5 December 28, 1908Stretto di messina7.1
6 March 27, 1638Calabria centrale7.09
7 January 13, 1915Marsica7.08
8 June 5, 1688Sannio7.06
9 March 28, 1783Calabria centrale7.03
10 September 8, 1905Calabria centrale6.95
11 January 14, 1703Valnerina6.92
12 November 3, 1706Maiella6.84
13 November 23, 1980Irpinia-basilicata6.81
14 September 9, 1349Lazio-molise6.8
15 June 8, 1638Crotonese6.76
16 May 24, 1184Valle del crati6.75
17 November 29, 1732Irpinia6.75
18 February 7, 1783Calabria centrale6.74
19 September 8, 1694Irpinia-basilicata6.73
20 August 19, 1561Vallo di diano6.72
21 May 31, 1646Gargano6.72
22 December 10, 1542Sicilia sud-orientale6.68
23 February 20, 1743Ionio settentrionale6.68
24 July 26, 1805Molise6.68
25 February 2, 1703Aquilano6.67
26 July 23, 1930Irpinia6.67
27 July 30, 1627Capitanata6.66
28 March 8, 1832Crotonese6.65
29 January 25, 1348Alpi giulie6.63
30 October 30, 2016Valnerina6.61
31 November 5, 1659Calabria centrale6.57
32 March 14, 1702Sannio-irpinia6.56
33 September 7, 1920Garfagnana6.53
34 January 3, 1117Veronese6.52
35 August 14, 1851Vulture6.52
36 June 3, 1781Cagliese6.51
37 February 4, 1169Sicilia sud-orientale6.5
38 November 27, 1461Aquilano6.5
39 December 1, 1328Valnerina6.49
40 May 6, 1976Friuli6.45
41 January 13, 1832Valle umbra6.43
42 January 15, 1968Valle del belice6.41
43 February 25, 1695Asolano6.4
44 July 27, 1751Appennino umbro-marchigiano6.38
45 June 29, 1919Mugello6.38
46 July 31, 1561Vallo di diano6.34
47 February 12, 1854Cosentino6.34
48 July 24, 1654Sorano6.33
49 March 20, 1731Tavoliere delle puglie6.33
50 March 26, 1511Friuli-slovenia6.32
51 December 25, 1352Alta valtiberina6.31
52 June 29, 1873Alpago cansiglio6.29
53 April 6, 2009Aquilano6.29
54 February 20, 1818Catanese6.28
55 September 9, 1349Appennino laziale-abruzzese6.27
56 February 23, 1887Liguria occidentale6.27
57 December 1, 1298Monti reatini6.26
58 October 4, 1870Cosentino6.24
59 October 7, 1639Monti della laga6.21
60 April 30, 1279Appennino umbro-marchigiano6.2
61 July 28, 1799Appennino marchigiano6.18
62 April 25, 1836Calabria settentrionale6.18
63 August 24, 2016Monti della laga6.18
64 April 24, 1741Fabrianese6.17
65 August 21, 1962Irpinia6.15
66 March 10, 1786Golfo di patti6.14
67 October 13, 1791Calabria centrale6.14
68 April 4, 1781Faentino6.12
69 November 16, 1894Calabria meridionale6.12
70 May 20, 2012Pianura emiliana6.09
71 November 6, 1599Valnerina6.07
72 April 4, 1626Calabria centrale6.07
73 January 9, 1693Sicilia sud-orientale6.07
74 October 26, 2016Valnerina6.07
75 October 18, 1936Alpago cansiglio6.06
76 June 5, 1501Modenese6.05
77 March 22, 1661Appennino forlivese6.05
78 April 17, 1747Appennino umbro-marchigiano6.05
79 May 12, 1730Valnerina6.04
80 August 14, 1846Colline pisane6.04
81 July 17, 1361Subappennino dauno6.03
82 October 18, 1389Alta valtiberina6.03
83 August 7, 1627Capitanata6.03
84 April 15, 1978Golfo di patti6.03
85 June 13, 1542Mugello6.02
86 March 27, 1928Carnia6.02