ABSTRACT
Although seismic events of non-damaging magnitudes also occur in northern and central Europe, major earthquakes are far more widespread in southern Europe, particularly in Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal.
Earthquakes have accompanied the history of humanity and have often determined its fate. Nevertheless, historic built heritage consists of major monuments that have withstood the centuries. This chapter examines the differences in vulnerability between historic and modern buildings, underlining the delicacy of the situation during emergencies.
The role of seismic engineering in the conservation of built heritage is discussed, highlighting the inadequacy of regulations while indicating the concept of “planned maintenance” as a key tool for conservation in line with the general principles outlined above.
