podtour
Gràcia: The Rebel Town and Its Shelters
You start in Plaça del Raspall, with two explanations for its name and rumba in its streets, and carry on to the chimney of a factory that burned down and the market its owner built.
The Sagrada Família, Around the Outside: audio walk in Barcelona
Twelve stories without going in: the field a bookseller bought with alms, the neighbours who posed for the façade, a stonemason from Japan, the brick school the church ended up treading on, the sculptor who had, most likely, signed against the project, and Gaudí's last afternoon, from his workshop to the crypt.
What this walk is about
Walk round Barcelona's most famous block without queuing. By the pond, the field a bookseller bought for a church paid for only with alms; at the Nativity façade, the only tower Gaudí saw finished, the tortoises beneath the columns and the angels a stonemason from Japan remade after the war destroyed the models. Facing the Glory façade, why the main door opens onto a residential street; on one corner, the wavy brick school that Le Corbusier sketched and that a column ended up treading on; at the Passion façade, the sculptor who had, most likely, signed against the project. And along Carrer de Provença, Gaudí's last afternoon: a "see you tomorrow", a tram, a night without a name and some thirty thousand people, according to the papers of the day, walking him back to the crypt. You finish looking up, at the star and the tallest tower.
- Start
- The streetlights brought back from storage
- Finish
- The star that went dark
- Who it is for
- A good starting point for your first visit. A walk for Gaudí and architecture lovers. For anyone who's already been inside and wants the story from the outside. You can also enjoy it as a family.
- Languages
- Spanish and British English
The route, stop by stop
An outline of the walk. The full stories are in the app.
Loading the map…
Open a marker to see its page. Use two fingers to move the map on mobile.
- 1
The streetlights brought back from storage
- 2
The bookseller who bought a field
- 3
A tower to show what was possible
- 4
Models made of flesh and blood
- 5
The stone carver who came from Japan
- 6
The doorway facing the neighbours
- 7
The school in the church's path
- 8
The sculptor who had opposed the church
- 9
Gaudí's plans for tomorrow
- 10
A night without a name
- 11
Thirty thousand people to the crypt
- 12
The star that went dark
Walking directions are based on mapped pedestrian routes. Check local access and signs; the route is not an accessibility guarantee. Times are approximate.
Barcelona, before you go
A city worth looking up for, with pavements worth watching too. Between narrow lanes, long avenues and a break by the sea, leave room in the day to sit down.
More walks nearby
Gaudí and Modernisme on Passeig de Gràcia
You start in front of la Pedrera, which was born to ridicule: one magazine asked whether there had been an earthquake there, and another called it a quarry.
From the Palau de la Música to Ciutadella Park
You start on the most musical corner in the city, the Palau de la Música, and on the night a banned song ended up before a military court.
Good to know
What is Podtour?
An app for self-guided audio walks. Choose a city and a route, then listen to the stories behind its streets. You decide when to start and when to stop.
When can I download the app?
Podtour is coming to iOS and Android. There is no confirmed launch date yet. Join the waitlist and we will let you know when it is ready.
Does Podtour include attraction tickets?
No. Street walks and monument audio tours do not include admission tickets, transport or a guide accompanying you.
Can I listen without an internet connection?
Download the audio in the app before heading out, then listen offline. Loading the online base map and calculating a new route from your location require a connection.
What languages are included?
Every route includes Spanish and British English. The English version is adapted for English-speaking travellers, rather than translated word for word.
How do I get a whole city for free?
Join the waitlist, choose a city and confirm your email address. When the app launches, we will email you with access details. No card is required. You can also try one free route in every city.
Can I buy for myself or for a group?
Yes. Your own access is included and you can choose 0–5 guests: up to 6 people including you. Each guest saves up to €0.50 on a walk, €1 on a pack or €2 on a whole city compared with buying separately. The counter shows the total before you confirm one payment.
How do I share, and when must guests accept?
After paying, share your purchase’s invitation link. Each guest opens it in Podtour and accepts their place on their own iPhone or Android phone. They must redeem it within 30 days of purchase. Unclaimed places then expire and cannot be recovered or renewed. Access accepted in time is kept. Opening the link does not use a place; one account takes just one place, and no more people can join once all places are taken.
Can I add guests after buying?
No. Choose all your guests before confirming the first purchase. Afterwards you can share the places you paid for, but you cannot increase their number or restart the 30-day deadline.
Your first city,
on Podtour.
Join the waitlist. When we launch, your chosen city is yours to explore.
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A little welcome gift
Your first city,
on Podtour.
Join the waitlist and get one whole city free when Podtour launches. You choose where.
Podtour manages your launch request with your consent. You can withdraw it and exercise your rights as explained in our privacy policy. Privacy details.
One city per person. All its Podtour routes in Spanish and English. Available at launch. Offer details.