The new European Macroseismic Scale 1992 (EMS) is applied to intensity estimation of data collected in field investigations of the 26 June 1993 Pollina (northern Sicily) earthquake and the results are compared with those obtained using the MSK-81 scale. The highest intensity estimated (VI–VII) fits with the low magnitude value (ML = 4.7) and the low resistance level of buildings is responsible for some unexpected severe damage, thus raising the seismic vulnerability of the area. The tectonic framework shows significant elements of recent activity accounting for the frequent seismicity. The study also evaluated the validity of using vulnerability classes of buildings as defined in the EMS scale in the intensity assessment of historical earthquakes of the area.