The strongest earthquakes ever in Tuscany from 1000 to 2020

Historical series of the strongest earthquakes ever in Tuscany

This page shows the strongest earthquakes ever with epicenter in Tuscany, 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 Tuscany, 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 Tuscany?

The strongest earthquake ever with its epicenter in Tuscany was recorded on September 7, 1920 with a magnitude equal to 6.53 (area/city: Garfagnana).

Symbols used for earthquake epicenters in Tuscany

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 329 earthquakes, 28 of them with 3.5≤Mw<4 (8.5%), 243 with 4≤Mw<5 (73.9%), 54 with 5≤Mw<6 (16.4%), 4 with 6≤Mw<7 (1.2%), 0 with Mw≥7 (0.0%).

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 Tuscany

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 September 7, 1920Garfagnana6.53
2 June 29, 1919Mugello6.38
3 August 14, 1846Colline pisane6.04
4 June 13, 1542Mugello6.02
5 April 13, 1558Valdarno superiore5.97
6 April 11, 1837Lunigiana5.94
7 August 7, 1414Colline metallifere5.7
8 March 6, 1740Garfagnana5.64
9 October 27, 1914Lucchesia5.63
10 September 6, 1920Garfagnana5.61
11 May 7, 1481Lunigiana5.6
12 February 28, 1293Pistoia5.56
13 May 18, 1895Fiorentino5.5
14 April 8, 1694Alta valtiberina5.4
15 September 28, 1453Fiorentino5.38
16 June 21, 2013Lunigiana5.36
17 August 25, 1909Crete senesi5.34
18 October 4, 1527Pistoia5.33
19 November 27, 1545Val d'orcia5.33
20 April 19, 1726Crete senesi5.33
21 October 16, 1940Val di paglia5.29
22 August 3, 1597Mugello5.28
23 January 21, 1767Lunigiana5.27
24 September 17, 1873Appennino tosco-ligure5.26
25 September 11, 1812Val di pesa5.24
26 January 3, 1781Crete senesi5.19
27 July 27, 1903Lunigiana5.19
28 September 7, 1920Garfagnana5.18
29 July 23, 1746Garfagnana5.15
30 October 30, 1802Val d'orcia5.15
31 July 29, 1871Val di cecina5.15
32 April 15, 1762Mugello5.14
33 October 5, 1777Val di paglia5.14
34 April 3, 1814Costa pisano-livornese5.12
35 December 11, 1864Mugello5.11
36 1148 (exact date unknown)Firenze5.1
37 December 16, 1320Siena5.1
38 1484 (exact date unknown)Sansepolcro5.1
39 1489 (exact date unknown)Sansepolcro5.1
40 June 4, 1496Siena5.1
41 November 1, 1504Casentino5.1
42 November 16, 1599Casentino5.1
43 September 8, 1611Mugello5.1
44 December 11, 1724Colline metallifere5.1
45 October 1, 1741Siena5.1
46 July 26, 1790Lunigiana5.1
47 October 18, 1804Valdelsa5.1
48 November 17, 1904Pistoiese5.1
49 August 25, 1909Crete senesi5.09
50 September 13, 1911Chianti5.08
51 May 12, 1848Senese5.05
52 September 7, 1920Garfagnana5.05
53 June 13, 1948Alta valtiberina5.04
54 October 25, 1843Mugello5.03
55 October 25, 1919Alta valtiberina5.03
56 June 26, 1899Valle del bisenzio5.02
57 February 11, 1939Mugello5.01
58 January 25, 2013Garfagnana5.01
59 April 1, 1950Livornese4.99
60 September 26, 1869Valdelsa4.98
61 September 10, 1878Lunigiana4.98
62 March 5, 1902Garfagnana4.98
63 February 5, 1796Aretino4.96
64 July 18, 1929Mugello4.96
65 October 15, 1939Garfagnana4.96
66 March 9, 1727Mugello4.93
67 February 1, 1995Val di pesa4.93
68 May 24, 1930Appennino tosco-emiliano4.91
69 October 29, 1960Mugello4.91
70 January 8, 1926Monte amiata4.9
71 September 5, 1931Mugello4.88
72 January 27, 1742Livornese4.87
73 1005 (exact date unknown)Arezzo4.86
74 1287 (exact date unknown)Monte amiata4.86
75 1358 (exact date unknown)Alta valtiberina4.86
76 December 27, 1361Siena4.86
77 February 29, 1436Siena4.86
78 September 3, 1467Siena4.86
79 January 9, 1520Alta valtiberina4.86
80 May 8, 1549Livorno4.86
81 November 27, 1554Firenze4.86
82 April 11, 1559Alta valtiberina4.86
83 June 14, 1575Siena4.86
84 March 24, 1679Val d'orcia4.86
85 September 20, 1697Siena4.86
86 September 30, 1697Siena4.86
87 February 5, 1700Val d'orcia4.86
88 December 27, 1770Valdarno superiore4.86
89 January 11, 1781Crete senesi4.86
90 September 8, 1798Val d'orcia4.86
91 1804 (exact date unknown)Valdelsa4.86
92 January 11, 1815Monte amiata4.86
93 May 26, 1798Senese4.85
94 October 31, 1939Lunigiana4.85
95 March 24, 1959Fiorentino4.85
96 December 17, 1804Valdelsa4.84
97 April 12, 1859Senese4.83
98 December 17, 1902Monte amiata4.83
99 November 3, 1948Monte amiata4.82
100 October 10, 1995Lunigiana4.82
101 February 7, 1869Senese4.81
102 August 4, 1902Lunigiana4.78
103 June 30, 2013Lunigiana4.77
104 March 29, 1731Alta valtiberina4.76
105 September 14, 1845Appennino tosco-emiliano4.73
106 August 2, 1853Val di cecina4.72
107 March 1, 2008Mugello4.72
108 April 7, 1950Livornese4.71
109 December 9, 2019Mugello4.69
110 September 22, 1901Valdelsa4.68
111 August 19, 1970Colline metallifere4.68
112 August 7, 1895Appennino tosco-emiliano4.67
113 January 6, 1969Appennino pistoiese4.67
114 May 7, 1921Lunigiana4.64
115 June 19, 1940Monte amiata4.64
116 June 7, 1980Garfagnana4.64
117 1196 (exact date unknown)Pistoia4.63
118 June 30, 1306Lucca4.63
119 September 12, 1345Firenze4.63
120 December 22, 1345Firenze4.63
121 October 15, 1449Crete senesi4.63
122 December 24, 1509Val d'orcia4.63
123 July 6, 1600Firenze4.63
124 June 8, 1641Lunigiana4.63
125 April 5, 1646Livorno4.63
126 October 1, 1697Siena4.63
127 October 28, 1697Siena4.63
128 December 20, 1697Siena4.63
129 June 23, 1729Casentino4.63
130 October 12, 1772Alta valtiberina4.63
131 January 31, 1774Alta valtiberina4.63
132 May 15, 1774Monte amiata4.63
133 August 3, 1778Alta valtiberina4.63
134 October 26, 1808Livorno4.63
135 August 12, 1815Pistoia4.63
136 February 6, 1835Mugello4.63
137 October 22, 1871Chianti4.63
138 April 29, 1946Colline metallifere4.63
139 November 26, 2001Casentino4.63
140 June 23, 2013Lunigiana4.63
141 September 7, 1920Garfagnana4.62
142 December 15, 1931Mugello4.62
143 April 22, 1984Costa pisano-livornese4.61
144 January 21, 1767Lunigiana4.6
145 January 23, 1985Garfagnana4.6
146 December 24, 1779Appennino pistoiese4.59
147 September 6, 1897Valdarno inferiore4.59
148 August 12, 1951Garfagnana4.59
149 July 27, 1916Garfagnana4.56
150 February 15, 1969Mugello4.56
151 January 5, 1775Appennino emiliano4.55
152 June 6, 1895Fiorentino4.55
153 February 12, 1905Monte amiata4.55
154 March 26, 1911Casentino4.54
155 July 29, 1913Casentino4.54
156 September 16, 1962Chianti4.54
157 December 13, 1955Lunigiana4.53
158 February 15, 1890Valdelsa4.52
159 April 1, 2000Monte amiata4.52
160 October 25, 1895Chianti4.51
161 August 4, 1965Alta valtiberina4.48
162 November 14, 1887Fiorentino4.47
163 April 12, 1859Senese4.46
164 June 27, 1902Casentino4.46
165 December 24, 1947Crete senesi4.46
166 October 1, 1986Lunigiana4.46
167 April 15, 1960Montefeltro4.45
168 December 20, 1907Chianti4.44
169 September 8, 1980Costa grossetana4.44
170 March 9, 1949Mugello4.42
171 October 2, 1997Alta valtiberina4.42
172 January 10, 1168Pisa4.4
173 1322 (exact date unknown)Pisa4.4
174 May 21, 1325Firenze4.4
175 1420 (exact date unknown)Siena4.4
176 1426 (exact date unknown)Firenze4.4
177 December 9, 1456Sansepolcro4.4
178 August 22, 1467Siena4.4
179 February 6, 1481Monti pisani4.4
180 February 7, 1481Lucca4.4
181 September 30, 1486Siena4.4
182 April 11, 1498Senese4.4
183 November 11, 1530Senese4.4
184 September 26, 1551Firenze4.4
185 January 25, 1603Siena4.4
186 1609 (exact date unknown)Valdelsa4.4
187 April 30, 1630Pistoiese4.4
188 March 31, 1638Siena4.4
189 January 13, 1648Pistoia4.4
190 June 18, 1697Val di pesa4.4
191 September 20, 1697Siena4.4
192 January 8, 1771Livorno4.4
193 June 29, 1783Casentino4.4
194 December 26, 1787Casentino4.4
195 January 6, 1849Romagna toscana4.4
196 June 5, 1856Alta valtiberina4.4
197 January 30, 1859Crete senesi4.4
198 June 17, 1868Monte amiata4.4
199 February 7, 1869Senese4.4
200 April 21, 1928Val d'orcia4.4
201 October 10, 1940Sestino4.4
202 September 14, 2009Mugello4.4
203 September 7, 2014Appennino tosco-emiliano4.4
204 April 20, 1973Fiorentino4.38
205 December 29, 1892Castel del rio4.37
206 July 8, 1896Porretta terme4.37
207 June 26, 1908Senese4.36
208 December 4, 1902Lunigiana4.35
209 September 13, 1911Chianti4.35
210 February 8, 1988Garfagnana4.34
211 October 2, 1997Alta valtiberina4.34
212 January 15, 1914Livornese4.33
213 December 24, 1997Garfagnana4.33
214 December 19, 2014Val di pesa4.33
215 August 2, 1922Frignano4.32
216 September 7, 1904Valle dell'ombrone4.31
217 January 28, 1974Appennino pistoiese4.31
218 April 21, 1906Valdelsa4.3
219 June 21, 2013Lunigiana4.3
220 March 21, 1925Colline metallifere4.29
221 January 25, 1931Lunigiana4.29
222 May 10, 1965Appennino reggiano4.29
223 July 27, 1897Valdarno inferiore4.27
224 May 22, 1897Valdelsa4.26
225 August 3, 1928Lunigiana4.26
226 January 14, 1991Casentino4.26
227 January 17, 1993Alta valtiberina4.26
228 November 7, 1908Val di chiana4.25
229 November 18, 1926Lunigiana4.25
230 March 1, 2008Mugello4.24
231 January 31, 1940Siena4.23
232 April 30, 1957Alta valtiberina4.23
233 August 15, 1912Mugello4.22
234 September 1, 1982Valle del serchio4.21
235 August 9, 1969Appennino tosco-romagnolo4.2
236 March 3, 1995Lunigiana4.2
237 December 15, 1907Chianti4.19
238 June 26, 1968Senese4.19
239 May 20, 1998Colline metallifere4.19
240 October 2, 1804Valdelsa4.18
241 August 3, 1961Lunigiana4.18
242 March 26, 2008Lunigiana4.18
243 June 30, 2003Costa pisano-livornese4.17
244 February 4, 1384Firenze4.16
245 February 4, 1384Firenze4.16
246 June 26, 1429Siena4.16
247 August 13, 1430Siena4.16
248 March 24, 1464Garfagnana4.16
249 April 7, 1469Firenze4.16
250 June 4, 1496Siena4.16
251 November 28, 1545Val d'orcia4.16
252 November 29, 1545Val d'orcia4.16
253 June 11, 1737Val di pesa4.16
254 March 18, 1759Pistoia4.16
255 November 30, 1768Valdelsa4.16
256 July 27, 1771Mugello4.16
257 July 27, 1771Mugello4.16
258 July 29, 1771Mugello4.16
259 June 26, 1779Siena4.16
260 December 31, 1779Appennino pistoiese4.16
261 January 6, 1781Crete senesi4.16
262 October 21, 1787Siena4.16
263 October 21, 1787Siena4.16
264 October 23, 1787Siena4.16
265 August 10, 1802Toscana centrale4.16
266 November 1, 1867Siena4.16
267 December 12, 1889San piero a sieve4.16
268 May 4, 1890Valdelsa4.16
269 December 12, 1894Livorno4.16
270 May 15, 1914Chianti4.16
271 January 22, 1918Corazzano4.16
272 September 3, 1925Monte amiata4.16
273 July 23, 1965Lunigiana4.16
274 April 16, 1975Monte amiata4.16
275 April 17, 2006Costa pisano-livornese4.16
276 December 19, 2014Val di pesa4.16
277 January 22, 1987Costa pisano-livornese4.15
278 March 18, 1909Appennino reggiano4.13
279 December 30, 1973Grossetano4.13
280 June 23, 2016Lunigiana4.11
281 November 15, 1897Val d'orcia4.1
282 April 22, 1984Costa pisano-livornese4.1
283 February 10, 1987Lunigiana4.09
284 July 9, 1989Montefeltro4.09
285 February 21, 2002Casentino4.09
286 October 25, 2016Valdelsa4.08
287 November 24, 1920Senese4.07
288 April 4, 1975Appennino pistoiese4.07
289 November 7, 1973Pistoiese4.06
290 July 11, 1996Lunigiana4.06
291 May 30, 1958Val di paglia4.05
292 March 1, 2008Mugello4.05
293 October 1, 1967Pistoiese4.04
294 March 21, 1997Monte amiata4.04
295 March 1, 2008Mugello4.04
296 February 22, 1956Senese4.03
297 August 6, 1993Colline metallifere4.03
298 May 1, 2018Colline metallifere4.02
299 June 30, 1974Appennino pistoiese4.01
300 September 13, 2015Val di pesa4.01
301 November 17, 1993Arcipelago toscano4
302 March 4, 2015Valdelsa3.99
303 May 21, 1984Costa pisano-livornese3.97
304 December 20, 1906Valdelsa3.96
305 July 20, 1925Garfagnana3.95
306 January 10, 1720Toscana settentrionale3.93
307 May 21, 1732Livorno3.93
308 February 18, 1778Lunigiana3.93
309 May 17, 1853Siena3.93
310 April 24, 1891Pescia3.93
311 December 29, 1892Palazzuolo sul senio3.93
312 August 2, 1916San gimignano3.93
313 October 19, 1933Colline metallifere3.93
314 May 1, 1984Costa pisano-livornese3.89
315 May 8, 1990Alta valtiberina3.77
316 April 14, 1705Senese3.7
317 March 29, 1730Versilia3.7
318 December 9, 1731Appennino pistoiese3.7
319 December 23, 1731Appennino pistoiese3.7
320 May 6, 1766Valdelsa3.7
321 October 20, 1787Siena3.7
322 February 14, 1795Siena3.7
323 October 6, 1804Valdelsa3.7
324 December 4, 1854Senese3.7
325 August 28, 1900Chianti3.7
326 January 22, 1918Corazzano3.7
327 September 25, 1919Frignano3.7
328 December 27, 1920Garfagnana3.7
329 June 24, 1990Colline metallifere3.56

The consequences of some strong earthquakes with epicenter in Tuscany

We offer below some notes found on the Wikipedia page dedicated to the strongest earthquakes in Italy in ancient times and the Middle Ages, the one dedicated to earthquakes in the modern age, the one dedicated to earthquakes in Mugello, and the one dedicated to the earthquake in Florence in 1895.

The earthquake of 678 (uncertain) would have ruined many cities and destroyed much of Arezzo.
The earthquake of 28 September 1453 in Florence (Mw: 5.3) caused damage to buildings, with collapses in the area east of the city.
The earthquake of June 13, 1542 in Mugello (Mw: 5.9) ruined a large part of the castle of Scarperia, and other places including Galliano, Sant'Agata, Barberino, Bosco ai Frati, Luco, causing the death of about 150 people. The image of the Madonna del Sasso was transferred to Florence, where it received offerings and tributes from the families of the city.
The earthquake of April 5, 1646 (Mw: 5.1) damaged the city of Livorno.
The earthquake of May 26, 1798 in Siena caused several victims and numerous damages to the city's buildings, including the Cathedral.
The Florence earthquake of May 18, 1895 (Mw: 5.1) caused the greatest damage in the south of the city, where it reached the VIII degree of the Mercalli scale, while in Florence the effects were of the VII degree of the same scale. Near Grassina there were 3 deaths from the collapse of farmhouses, while the Medici villa of Lappeggi suffered significant damage; a fourth victim lost his life in the collapse of a building in San Martino a Strada; in the capital, however, although there were no deaths, there were 6 injured and about a hundred buildings uninhabitable.
Both in Florence and in the surrounding areas, many monumental buildings were seriously damaged, especially churches; the most significant damage occurred at the Certosa di Firenze where an entire side of the cloister collapsed, damaging numerous works of art. Lesser damage was also found at Giotto's bell tower, the baptistery and the cathedral, where numerous cracks opened up. Partial damage was also found at the Basilica of Santa Croce, the Basilica of San Lorenzo, the Badia Fiorentina and the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine. Minor collapses also occurred at Palazzo Pitti, Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Palazzo degli Uffizi, Palazzo Strozzi, the Museum of San Marco and the National Museum of Bargello, where however some art collections were damaged; outside the historic center, the Church of San Leonardo in Arcetri was also damaged.
The earthquake was followed by a strong aftershock on June 6, 1895 which however did not cause further damage or victims, while the aftershocks of decreasing intensity continued until June 1896.
The earthquake of 29 June 1919 in Mugello (Mw: 6.1) caused over one hundred deaths, four hundred injuries and thousands of homeless people. The area where the greatest damage occurred was in the immediate vicinity of Vicchio, including the towns of Pilarciano, Villore, Rostolena, Mirandola, Villa, Vitigliano, Rupecanina and Casole; in the municipal capital, 700 out of 1500 houses were destroyed; 500 became uninhabitable and the remainder suffered serious damage. The birthplace of the painter Giotto in the hamlet of Vespignano was also seriously damaged. Serious damage also occurred in Borgo San Lorenzo, where over 75% of the houses were declared uninhabitable and the Pieve, another church and other buildings collapsed; in San Godenzo, where the church was seriously damaged and most of the houses were uninhabitable; in Dicomano, where the Clock Tower collapsed, several houses and most of the others were seriously damaged; the hospital in Luco del Mugello had to be evacuated. There was also serious damage in Firenzuola and in some municipalities on the Romagna side but fortunately no damage to people, since the area had already been hit by an earthquake the previous November and the population was still living in makeshift shacks.
The effects of the earthquake were also felt in Florence, where there was minor damage such as falling chimneys, detachment of plaster and some cracks in walls; in Prato, where some walls collapsed and some buildings were damaged and in Campi Bisenzio, where an ancient medieval tower was damaged and had to be demolished. A subsequent strong shock, on July 1, further aggravated the damage, particularly affecting buildings already damaged by the first shock.