If you are buying property in Italy, you will eventually come across the visura catastale. It may look like a sheet filled with codes and numbers, but it is one of the first documents that should be understood and checked.
What information does it contain?
The report records the municipality, map sheet, parcel, sub-unit, cadastral category, class, size, cadastral income and registered holders. These details identify the unit in the Italian Cadastre and are also used for certain tax calculations.
What does it not prove?
The Italian Cadastre mainly serves a fiscal purpose. A cadastral report does not by itself prove planning compliance and does not replace municipal building records. The registered holders must also be compared with the title deed and Land Registry records.
Details to check
- The registered holders and their ownership shares.
- The cadastral category and designated use.
- Map sheet, parcel and sub-unit.
- Size, consistency and cadastral income.
- Any recent cadastral changes.
The visura is a starting point, not a complete legal check. Before buying, it should be examined together with the floor plan, municipal planning documents, title deed and mortgage search.
