The proposed project addresses the potential use of appropriate modern seismic protective systems in the preservation and conservation of Mediterranean historical buildings in earthquake-prone areas. Modern seismic retrofit techniques applied to existing structures, such as the addition of steel moment resisting frames or reinforced concrete shear walls, waste the historical value of an ancient building because they are aesthetically apparent. Base isolation, which consists of placing isolators and/or dampers at the foundation level, requires only minor structural modifications to the building, especially at the foundation level where they are not aesthetically apparent. As an alternative small size devices could be distributed across the monument to dissipate energy. These devices can eventually be made intelligent (semi active control), provided that their properties be the result of a suitable control process.