The characteristics and structure of several silica-supported nickel systems, prepared by impregnation and precipitation-deposition and in a wide range of nickel contents (from 0.58 up to 69 wt% Ni), have been studied. Using mainly conventional sorption techniques the textural properties - BET surface area, pore volume, average pore radius, pore size distribution - and surface chemical distribution - nickel surface area, reduction degree, dispersion, crystallite particle diameter - of the samples have been determined. All these characteristics have been related to each other and globally analyzed to advance in the understanding of the final structure of the catalysts and its relationship with support structure, preparation procedure and nickel content.