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Origin and history

The Italian Gate, located in Breil-sur-Roya, is an ancient fortified gate, part of the ramparts built to protect the village. It is to the south, near the Roya, and marked the beginning of the mule paths leading to Dolceacqua and Vintimille, towards the Republic of Genoa. This door, also called the Genoa Gate, was closed every night, and a local legend tells that wolves came to scream at night. It has been listed as historical monuments since 1986.

The village of Breil-sur-Roya developed in a loop of the Roya after the 10th century, taking advantage of the natural defences of the site. In 1221 Breil, Saorge, La Brig and Tende signed a defence pact against Genoa. In 1258, the rights in these territories were sold to the Count of Provence Charles I of Anjou, and in 1388 the house of Savoie took control of the county of Nice, including Breil. The gate, with its lauze roof and round path, also served as a customs post after 1860, when Nice County joined France.

Nearby is the chapel Saint-Antoine-l'Ermite and the tower of La Cruella, a fire tower used to alert the inhabitants in case of danger. The name Cruella comes from the local dialect of Brittany, meaning bird of prey (crivella), with reference to a small hawk. The gate, with its defensive elements, illustrates the strategic importance of Breil-sur-Roya in the conflicts between Genoa, Provence and Savoy.

After 1860, the gate was used by French customs to control trafficking and combat smuggling, reflecting its continued role in border surveillance. Today, it remains an architectural testimony of the historical exchanges and tensions between the Alpes-Maritimes and the Italian Liguria.

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