podtour
Masaniello and Market Square
Market Square witnessed rebellions, executions and farewells. Meet the people who made this corner of Naples part of the city's history.
From the Vicaria to Forcella: audio walk in Naples
The eastern end of the historic centre, where Naples tried, imprisoned and took in its children: the painting by a fugitive, an inscription against bad neighbours, the castle a viceroy turned into a court, the debtors' column, the Madonna's oil collected by the camorra, a prisoner who walked out to write a newspaper, a Florentine gateway, the foundlings' wheel, the tomb of a queen with too much of a reputation, and the blocks of the Greek city wall.
What this walk is about
You begin at the portico of the Pio Monte, where seven young noblemen commissioned a painting of mercy from an artist on the run from a murder conviction. A little further on, an old inscription asks God to keep it from envy and bad neighbours. You reach Castel Capuano, the Norman castle that the viceroy Pedro de Toledo turned into the Vicaria: here the ruined debtor climbed a column and dropped his trousers, here the camorra charged prisoners for the Madonna's lamp oil, and from here Eleonora Pimentel walked out to run the Republic's newspaper. Then comes the gate that Lorenzo the Magnificent helped to build, and the church of the Martyrs of Otranto. You go down to the Annunziata, where a wheel took in abandoned children and where the surname Esposito comes from, and where Queen Joanna the Second is buried, a queen who carried the legend of two. You finish in Forcella, in front of the blocks of the Greek wall, with the story of a tower of hidden letters, and a name some put down to a gallows and others to Pythagoras.
- Start
- A Fugitive Paints Mercy
- Finish
- The Y of Forcella
- Who it is for
- A walk for anyone curious about social history and working-class neighbourhoods.
- Languages
- Spanish and British English
- Underfoot
- The walk is mostly level. There are cobbles or uneven surfaces. The route notes mention stairs or steps on the walk or its approaches.
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
A Fugitive Paints Mercy
- 2
God Save Me from Bad Neighbours
- 3
The Column of Shame
- 4
The Virgin's Oil
- 5
A Prisoner Steps into the Street
- 6
Martyrs and Water Conduits
- 7
A Florentine Gate
- 8
The Foundling Wheel of the Espositos
- 9
The Queen with the Simple Tomb
- 10
A Greek Tower Beneath a Theatre
- 11
The Y of Forcella
Walking directions are based on mapped pedestrian routes. Check local access and signs; the route is not an accessibility guarantee. Times are approximate.
Naples, before you go
Walk Naples with attention and an appetite. Narrow streets, slopes and the sea change the pace; leave room to look and to step aside for a moment.
More walks nearby
The Historic Centre, Layer by Layer
In central Naples, one age keeps appearing beneath another. Walk Spaccanapoli and the Tribunali among churches, philosophers and the streets of Neapolis.
Naples: Saints, Skulls and Mysteries
Naples tells extraordinary stories about princes, skulls and saints. Walk through the centre to hear those beliefs and discover what lies behind them.
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.