Cadastral Map Reference and Cadastral Parcel: Differences and Meaning

Why It’s Important to Know Cadastral Terms

Cadastral documentation is essentially the “identity card” of a property. Knowing exactly what terms like map reference and parcel mean is essential both for sellers, who must present a property free of inconsistencies, and for buyers, who want to purchase with transparency and security. Confusion between these concepts can cause delays, requests for additional documentation, or in more complex cases, even postponement of the final deed.

What Is a Cadastral Map Reference?

A cadastral map reference is an identification number that locates a property (land or building) within a municipality’s cadastral map. In other words, the mappale makes it possible to “place” a property on an official map. It is a geographical and topographical reference tool, useful for pinpointing the property within municipal territory.

It is mainly used:

• in cadastral records, to identify the location of a property;

• in sales documents and building permits;

• as a reference for possible subdivisions or cadastral updates.

What Is a Cadastral Parcel?

The cadastral parcel, on the other hand, represents the smallest unit recorded in the Cadastre. It is the portion of land or building associated with specific data such as surface area, cadastral income, intended use, and title holders.

Mappale vs particella catastale: differenze principali

Qua trovi una tabella che riassume le differenze chiave tra i due concetti:

In short: the mappale places a property, the parcel describes it. Both are essential and appear together in cadastral records

Other Related Cadastral Terms to Know

To better understand cadastral documents, it’s also useful to be familiar with other terms:

• Cadastral sheet (foglio catastale): each municipality is divided into sheets, which represent sections of territory; each sheet contains multiple map references.

• Subaltern (sub.): number identifying individual property units within the same parcel (e.g., apartments in a condominium).

• Cadastral record (visura catastale): official document issued by the Revenue Agency reporting identifying and fiscal data of a property (sheet, map reference, parcel, subaltern, cadastral income, title holders).

• Cadastral income (rendita catastale): value assigned to a property by the Cadastre, used for calculating taxes.

• Cadastral category: classification of a property based on its use (residential, office, commercial, etc.).

• Census section: further subdivision of cadastral territory, used especially in larger municipalities.

• Cadastral map extract: official graphic reproduction showing the position and boundaries of parcels and map references.

Knowing these terms allows you to read documents more clearly and handle negotiations with confidence.

Why Trust Engel & Völkers with Cadastral and Document Management

• Correctly interpreting cadastral documents requires care and experience. Even a small error or inconsistency can delay a transaction or reduce buyer confidence. Engel & Völkers supports property owners and buyers by ensuring:

  • Technical and administrative support: assistance in collecting, verifying, and interpreting cadastral data.

  • Preventive checks: compliance verification before starting the sale, avoiding unpleasant surprises.

  • Personalized consulting: a team of professionals capable of translating technical terms into clear, understandable steps.

  With Engel & Völkers, cadastral management becomes a smooth and safe step, fully integrated into a transparent and reliable sales process.