Starting from two famous sentences about the relationships between ruins and history and about the meaning of tradition, the article deals with many facets that conservation has in the contemporary world. Through an initial provocative example of recent re-production of a monument, some of the new challenges in – and for – conservation emerge in relation with the consolidate goals of the discipline of restoration. New problems, issues and contradictions are now on the fore in cultural heritage safeguarding, management and enhancement, but also some new possibilities for education and professional activity characterize the field
