You’re now standing in front of the monumental Italy Gate. If you can, take a moment to walk through it and look at the other side, to get a feel for how it looked originally. Built in the 18th century from plans by the famous French military engineer Vauban, this gate is one of the last surviving parts of the old fortifications that surrounded Toulon. Back then, the city sat close to the border of the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, so protecting it was a top priority. The gate marked the official entrance to Toulon. It was where goods were inspected and taxes were collected on anything coming in from outside. Fun fact, Napoleon Bonaparte and his troops marched through this gate before fighting the Piedmontese and Austrians in northern Italy, a region that, at the time, included Savoy, Piedmont, the Aosta Valley, and the County of Nice. A powerful symbol, and a striking reminder of Toulon’s strategic and historic past.