podtour
Via de' Bardi and San Niccolò
You start where the street was once called "Lousy", before it came to belong to the Bardi, bankers who lent money to a king of England and were never paid back.
Oltrarno: from Pitti to the Carmine: audio walk in Florence
The other bank in eleven stops: the palace of a Medici rival that ended up in the hands of Eleonora of Toledo, the five thousand refugees of 1944, a runaway Venetian who became a grand duchess, a teenage Michelangelo's lost crucifix and the punch that broke his nose.
What this walk is about
You start on the slope of Piazza Pitti: Luca Pitti wanted the biggest palace in the city, lost, and the rival's house ended up being bought by Eleonora of Toledo; in 1944 the same palace sheltered thousands of Florentines. At San Felice, it's said, Brunelleschi hung a heaven with children dressed as angels; across the square, Elizabeth Barrett Browning's windows; on Via Maggio, Bianca Cappello and the mystery of her death, which science has reopened. At Santo Spirito, the church that wanted to face the river, the fire people read as a punishment and the boy who studied anatomy at night. You finish between the Ardiglione and the Carmine, with the friar who drew in the margins and the punch that flattened Michelangelo's nose.
- Start
- The palace of the fugitives
- Finish
- The punch at the Carmine
- Who it is for
- For anyone coming back to Florence or looking for a neighbourhood with a life of its own. A walk for anyone curious about art and court scandals. You don’t need any prior knowledge.
- 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 palace of the fugitives
- 2
The duchess who bought the rival's house
- 3
The republic of five thousand
- 4
Heaven on pulleys
- 5
The windows of Casa Guidi
- 6
The Venetian woman of Via Maggio
- 7
The church that wanted to face the river
- 8
The fire of 1471
- 9
The young Michelangelo's lost crucifix
- 10
The friar who drew in the margins
- 11
The punch at the Carmine
Walking directions are based on mapped pedestrian routes. Check local access and signs; the route is not an accessibility guarantee. Times are approximate.
Florence, before you go
Florence fits into short walks that grow longer as you keep looking. The centre is compact; crossing the Arno changes the perspective without changing the city.
More walks nearby
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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Your first city,
on Podtour.
Join the waitlist and get one whole city free when Podtour launches. You choose where.
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One city per person. All its Podtour routes in Spanish and English. Available at launch. Offer details.