The Italian seismic catalogues have an inestimable historical, cultural and scientific value. They probably represent a unique case in the world in terms of quality and quantity of available information. Their use is extremely broad. They represent an inexhaustible source of scientific information available to researchers. Furthermore, they can widely used in various ways such as, first of all, to validate the procedures for assessing the seismic hazard of the national territory. In recent years, the potential for analysis and the ever-increasing availability of instrumental recordings have led to a review, which is also ongoing in the scientific field, of methods, procedures and analyses on specific cases to re-evaluate the seismic intensities of historical events. In this study, of a preliminary nature, the main problems are highlighted and a framework is prepared for the redefinition of the seismic intensities of historical events.