The historical heritage often includes extensive monumental spaces, the most notable being the old town centers of cities with centuries-old or millenary history. There are also monumental streets, monumental squares, old seaports and even old monumental markets.[2]​ A monumental street is one that brings together a variety of buildings classified as historical assets, although they can also be old streets with their own historical and cultural value (such as the main avenues that in ancient cities passed through the city gates). Likewise, a monumental square can be a square built around existing monuments, or itself be a classified historical element, like many main squares or parade squares in this sense (for example, the Plaza de Armas in Cuzco, Peru, or the Italian piazzas del Popolo, such as those in Rome and Cesena "Piazza del Popolo (Cesena)").

There are urban spaces that make up neighborhoods or entire towns, classified as historical heritage,[4][5]​ as is the case of the Plaza de Armas de Álamos "Plaza de Armas (Álamos)"), in the state of Sonora, Mexico.[2]​.

Regarding the state of the monument, it can:[2]​.

There are also intangible assets that are part of the historical heritage records.[6]​ Festivals of a historical nature (such as patron saint festivals and Volksfeste) may be part of the classification of some countries, although in others they belong to a different category (although always within the framework of cultural heritage).

Some collections of archives and written, photographed or recorded material are also protected historical assets.[7]​ UNESCO offers its own category—the so-called Memory of the World Program, formerly known as Documentary Heritage of Humanity—, which includes this type of elements.[6]​ For example, the collection of Mexican codices or the material collected and presented during the Auschwitz trials are part of this program. In the second case, beyond the material itself, an important historical significance is attributed to it, since through this process a large part of the history of the Holocaust came to public consciousness.[8]​.

Some historical sites are sites of famous crimes or tragic events;[9] they may consist of museums built on a symbolic site, such as Tuol Sleng in Cambodia, or consist of entire compounds or camps, such as Auschwitz in Poland. They can be commemorated by means of monuments (statues, bridges, etc.), such as Ground Zero in New York, or simply marked, such as Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, or Carlebach Square in Hamburg.

The conservation of historical heritage corresponds to the States and their corresponding legislation.[2]​ In some, it is a national authority that is responsible for the management of all classified assets, while in others regional entities are in charge, especially in countries whose form of government is federal (such as the case of Germany, where the entire management of historical heritage #Legislation "Asset of heritage interest (Germany)") falls under the jurisdiction of the federated states "Federal State (Germany)"), although the federal government assists in the management of monuments with special interest at the national level).[10]​.

According to civil law expert Estefanía Hernández Torres, whose doctoral thesis deals with Historical heritage and property registration, “the protection of historical heritage constitutes one of the main concerns of civilized societies. The assets that make up the cultural legacy are deserving of protection as they constitute an access route to culture.

The registries prepared by the different States and international organizations (such as UNESCO or the European Union) are usually developed within the framework of very detailed legislation, which contemplates the relationships between public authorities, conservation entities (institutional or private), property owners (in cases of private property) and citizen collaboration. Beyond the historical and factual data, observations are also maintained on the historical, cultural or artistic significance of the classified asset, in addition to its condition regarding its use, exploitation and usufruct.

Many classified assets can be used by their owners (for their home, running hotels, museums, etc.), with the conditions imposed on them, always involving a certain level of care, conservation and even rehabilitation works.[1] Many times, these conditions are part of the purchase or rental contract, and their compliance is essential to be able to keep the property. One such condition may be periodic control visits by the corresponding conservation entity.[11]​ In other cases, when it comes to private property in the possession of an individual prior to its classification, the conservation and rehabilitation tasks, or at least their financing, fall to public authorities and conservation entities. In almost all cases, renovation and renovation works on the property (both internal and external) that are not part of the rehabilitation and recovery of historical elements are strictly prohibited. In large-scale projects, citizen intervention is required to carry out the activities required for the conservation of the property or premises.[11]​.

Historical heritage has an important social meaning, and sometimes also social functions.[12] These can range from museums developed for educational purposes and academic projects to meeting points for artists, student dormitories (such as certain towers on the Nuremberg wall) or cheap housing for people with fewer resources. House-museums are common, being former homes of famous people (artists, pioneers, soldiers, politicians, businessmen) who have exerted a great influence on local, national or international history and folklore.[13] These houses are usually kept preserved in their original state (when the people in question still lived in them), preserving their furniture, belongings, decorative elements and work tools. Some examples are the Salvador Dalí House-Museum in Portlligat, Spain, the Freud House Museums in several European cities, or the Ben-Yehuda House in Jerusalem, Israel.

According to Joaquín Saúl García, professor of Geography at the UCLM, "in recent years, cultural heritage has become the foundation of a tourist trend—cultural tourism—that, although it has a long history that is manifested in the well-known travel books of the 19th century, it will not be until the end of the century when it appears as a way of traveling whose objectives are the knowledge of cultural wealth and diversity...".[12]​ García states that the relationship between heritage and tourism today is, therefore, very narrow, which contributes greatly to the conservation of heritage assets both from an economic point of view and in sustainable development; In this aspect, heritage acts as a dynamic factor of the system.[12]​ A similar opinion is expressed by the fine arts expert Ana María Barbero, who describes historical heritage as an instrument for sustainable development (taking a local development project in Portugal as a practical example).[14]​.

The historical heritage often includes extensive monumental spaces, the most notable being the old town centers of cities with centuries-old or millenary history. There are also monumental streets, monumental squares, old seaports and even old monumental markets.[2]​ A monumental street is one that brings together a variety of buildings classified as historical assets, although they can also be old streets with their own historical and cultural value (such as the main avenues that in ancient cities passed through the city gates). Likewise, a monumental square can be a square built around existing monuments, or itself be a classified historical element, like many main squares or parade squares in this sense (for example, the Plaza de Armas in Cuzco, Peru, or the Italian piazzas del Popolo, such as those in Rome and Cesena "Piazza del Popolo (Cesena)").

There are urban spaces that make up neighborhoods or entire towns, classified as historical heritage,[4][5]​ as is the case of the Plaza de Armas de Álamos "Plaza de Armas (Álamos)"), in the state of Sonora, Mexico.[2]​.

Regarding the state of the monument, it can:[2]​.

There are also intangible assets that are part of the historical heritage records.[6]​ Festivals of a historical nature (such as patron saint festivals and Volksfeste) may be part of the classification of some countries, although in others they belong to a different category (although always within the framework of cultural heritage).

Some collections of archives and written, photographed or recorded material are also protected historical assets.[7]​ UNESCO offers its own category—the so-called Memory of the World Program, formerly known as Documentary Heritage of Humanity—, which includes this type of elements.[6]​ For example, the collection of Mexican codices or the material collected and presented during the Auschwitz trials are part of this program. In the second case, beyond the material itself, an important historical significance is attributed to it, since through this process a large part of the history of the Holocaust came to public consciousness.[8]​.

Some historical sites are sites of famous crimes or tragic events;[9] they may consist of museums built on a symbolic site, such as Tuol Sleng in Cambodia, or consist of entire compounds or camps, such as Auschwitz in Poland. They can be commemorated by means of monuments (statues, bridges, etc.), such as Ground Zero in New York, or simply marked, such as Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, or Carlebach Square in Hamburg.

The conservation of historical heritage corresponds to the States and their corresponding legislation.[2]​ In some, it is a national authority that is responsible for the management of all classified assets, while in others regional entities are in charge, especially in countries whose form of government is federal (such as the case of Germany, where the entire management of historical heritage #Legislation "Asset of heritage interest (Germany)") falls under the jurisdiction of the federated states "Federal State (Germany)"), although the federal government assists in the management of monuments with special interest at the national level).[10]​.

According to civil law expert Estefanía Hernández Torres, whose doctoral thesis deals with Historical heritage and property registration, “the protection of historical heritage constitutes one of the main concerns of civilized societies. The assets that make up the cultural legacy are deserving of protection as they constitute an access route to culture.

The registries prepared by the different States and international organizations (such as UNESCO or the European Union) are usually developed within the framework of very detailed legislation, which contemplates the relationships between public authorities, conservation entities (institutional or private), property owners (in cases of private property) and citizen collaboration. Beyond the historical and factual data, observations are also maintained on the historical, cultural or artistic significance of the classified asset, in addition to its condition regarding its use, exploitation and usufruct.

Many classified assets can be used by their owners (for their home, running hotels, museums, etc.), with the conditions imposed on them, always involving a certain level of care, conservation and even rehabilitation works.[1] Many times, these conditions are part of the purchase or rental contract, and their compliance is essential to be able to keep the property. One such condition may be periodic control visits by the corresponding conservation entity.[11]​ In other cases, when it comes to private property in the possession of an individual prior to its classification, the conservation and rehabilitation tasks, or at least their financing, fall to public authorities and conservation entities. In almost all cases, renovation and renovation works on the property (both internal and external) that are not part of the rehabilitation and recovery of historical elements are strictly prohibited. In large-scale projects, citizen intervention is required to carry out the activities required for the conservation of the property or premises.[11]​.

Historical heritage has an important social meaning, and sometimes also social functions.[12] These can range from museums developed for educational purposes and academic projects to meeting points for artists, student dormitories (such as certain towers on the Nuremberg wall) or cheap housing for people with fewer resources. House-museums are common, being former homes of famous people (artists, pioneers, soldiers, politicians, businessmen) who have exerted a great influence on local, national or international history and folklore.[13] These houses are usually kept preserved in their original state (when the people in question still lived in them), preserving their furniture, belongings, decorative elements and work tools. Some examples are the Salvador Dalí House-Museum in Portlligat, Spain, the Freud House Museums in several European cities, or the Ben-Yehuda House in Jerusalem, Israel.

According to Joaquín Saúl García, professor of Geography at the UCLM, "in recent years, cultural heritage has become the foundation of a tourist trend—cultural tourism—that, although it has a long history that is manifested in the well-known travel books of the 19th century, it will not be until the end of the century when it appears as a way of traveling whose objectives are the knowledge of cultural wealth and diversity...".[12]​ García states that the relationship between heritage and tourism today is, therefore, very narrow, which contributes greatly to the conservation of heritage assets both from an economic point of view and in sustainable development; In this aspect, heritage acts as a dynamic factor of the system.[12]​ A similar opinion is expressed by the fine arts expert Ana María Barbero, who describes historical heritage as an instrument for sustainable development (taking a local development project in Portugal as a practical example).[14]​.