Post-tensioned　(PT)　rocking　piers　have　received　considerable　attention　as　an　advantageous　solution　for　seismic　resilient　structures.　Their　self-centering　capacity,　the　advan-tages　related　to　the　column-uplifting　mechanisms,　and　the　possibility　of　being　combined　with　energy　dissipation　devices　largely　contributed　to　this　increasing　attention.　Simultaneously,　Geotechnical　Seismic　Isolation　(GSI)　has　emerged　as　a　technique　to　reduce　the　seismic　vulner-ability　of　structures.　The　GSI　a　technique　is　based　on　design　of　a　suitable　interface　between　the　foundation　of　the　structure　and　the　surrounding　terrain.　Such　an　interface　can　work　as　seismic　isolation　and　energy　dissipation　mechanism.　This　research　investigates　the　use　of　GSI　for　PT　rocking　piers　equipped　with　external　energy　dissipation　devices.　The　main　focus　of　the　investigation　is　the　comparative　assessment　of　the　effectiveness　of　external　dissipators　and　GSI　to　ascertain　if　the　two　protection　mechanisms　can　synergize　and　collaboratively　enhance　the　safety　of　the　structure.　The　investigation　employs　numerical　simulations　through　the　direct　integration　of　the　equation　of　motion　of　the　studied　system.　The　outcomes　of　the　para-metric　analysis　are　presented　in　gain　maps　that　illustrate　the　effectiveness　of　the　coupling　within　a　designated　parameter　plane.　Preliminary　results　show　that　GSI　could　be　effective　in　combination　with　external　dampers　in　reducing　the　seismic　effects　on　rocking　piers.　©　2024　The　Author(s).