Over time vaulted masonry elements have been designed to withstand mainly symmetrical permanent load conditions (e.g. due to own weight), but many other environmental actions, such as earthquakes, may produce asymmetrical loads, which can undermine the whole structural system. Recent seismic events in Italy highlighted the vulnerability of masonry structures, in particular of vaulted structures, which should be somehow limited by applying preventive structural interventions. To interpret correctly the structural behaviour of masonry vaults, it is necessary to take account for their interaction with the entire building organism as well as to consider the relevant resisting mechanisms, which is governed by internal stresses induced by the static and dynamic loads and by any existing structural pathology. This paper aims at better understanding the structural response of vaulted masonry elements, based on the historical constructional periods, architectural style and geometrical types, in order to acquire useful information for a preventive analysis of the major potential structural vulnerabilities in case of seismic events.