Display omitted •The CPO activity of Nickel catalyst supported over La2O3 is enhanced by the presence of CeO2.•The interaction between NiO and CeO2 can be tuned by appropriate synthesis.•The interaction between NiO and CeO2 enhances the ceria oxygen mobility.•Microwave assisted synthesis produces strong interaction between Nickel and SiO2.•Some carbon deposition during CPO protects Ni from sintering. The effects of preparation method, types of carrier and different catalyst and support structures on the CH4 catalytic partial oxidation (CPO) activity of supported Ni catalysts are reviewed with respect to selected results obtained by this research group during the last five years. In particular, different preparation methods and structural effect of Ni supported on La2O3, on CeO2 and on mixed CeO2-La2O3 are discussed. The effects of the peculiarity of an active (redox) and of an inert oxide carrier, influencing the metal dispersion, the metal reducibility and the carbon formation, are considered by comparing the catalytic performance of nickel catalysts supported on CeO2 and on SiO2. Ni supported over a high surface area silica will be compared with a corresponding ceria-doped nickel catalyst. The results of a detailed material characterization attained by several techniques as XPS, XRD, TPR/TPO are described, aiming to elucidate the structure - activity relationship. The reviewing of the different case studies illustrates the importance of the interaction between support and active metals ultimately determining the surface distribution of the active sites and their final catalytic activity.