Re-appraisal of the seismic history of the city of Rome (Italy): new intensity assessments and unresolved issues

A re-evaluation of Rome's seismic history reveals that the city has rarely experienced earthquake damage exceeding intensity degree 6 on both the EMS-98 and MCS scales, contrary to previous assessments. The study analyzed approximately 500 historical damage reports, georeferenced them onto maps of Rome, and found that nearly all seismic impacts were confined to the historic center, not the broader urban area. This suggests that Rome's seismic history is primarily representative of its ancient core rather than its current extent, which has expanded significantly over time. The research also highlights unresolved challenges in estimating intensities in large urban centers and assessing the homogeneity of seismic records in rapidly expanding cities.

Tertulliani, A., Graziani, L., & Rossi, A. (2025). Re-appraisal of the seismic history of the city of Rome (Italy): new intensity assessments and unresolved issues. Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 24(2), 659–692. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-025-02317-4