At the time, the gates were to serve as customs duty stations, and their architecture was supposed to reflect the grandeur of the Napoleonic Empire as well as the role of Milan as the capital of the Kingdom of Italy.
Sel ajal toimisid väravad tollijaamadena ning nende arhitektuur pidi peegeldama nii Napoleoni keisririigi suurejoonelisust kui ka Milano rolli Itaalia kuningriigi pealinnana.