Travel Guide Ventimiglia

Its origins date back to the 2nd century B.C. when the Romans built the fortified city of Albitimilium, which later became an independent commune under the authority of the Counts of Ventimiglia. These put an end to the Saracen incursions and to the expansion attempts of the Genoese until 1222. In 1261, the Republic of Genoa and Provence shared this territory and Ventimiglia became a fortified border town. After centuries of French and then Sardinian occupation, the city became part of Italy in 1861.In recent years, the city has become the sad site of tensions between migrants, refugees or illegal immigrants, who want to enter France, and the French police, who block them or send them back to the border. This management of the migration crisis has even become one of the major causes of disputes between France and the Italian government. Today, Ventimiglia wants to persuade its visitors to leave the unique perimeter of the famous market, to encourage walkers to discover its historical and living heritage and the surrounding region.