podtour
The Square of Kings
Between the San Carlo Theatre and the Royal Palace, Naples brings together kings, coffee and pizza. Discover the stories behind its grand square.
Santa Lucia and the Egg Castle: audio walk in Naples
The Naples waterfront without the postcard: the song the whole world sings and the water-sellers who really lived in Santa Lucia, an admiral who came back to the surface, the siren who gave the city its name, Virgil's egg and the date it first appeared, the last emperor of Rome exiled on the island, the broken surrender of 1799 and Vesuvius, which a Greek geographer saw sleeping.
What this walk is about
You start in Santa Lucia with the song they sing even in Sweden, and find out who really lived on this street: fishermen, oyster sellers and water-sellers quite capable of beating a policeman black and blue. Opposite the fishermen's church, the story of the admiral who gives the seafront its name and who came back to the surface days after he was hanged. Then out to the island: Parthenope the siren, the egg Virgil is supposed to have hidden in the castle (and when that legend really appeared), the last emperor of the West, who ended up here with a pension, and the 1799 surrender that was never honoured. Back along the seafront: Vesuvius, which a Greek geographer thought had gone out; the Chiatamone, once the shoreline and home to Alexandre Dumas; and the Villa Comunale, the royal garden that turned the barefoot away at the gate.
- Start
- A Song for the Whole World
- Finish
- A Garden Closed to Bare Feet
- Who it is for
- A walk for anyone curious about sea and scenery and legends. You can also enjoy it as a family.
- Languages
- Spanish and British English
- Underfoot
- The walk is mostly level.
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 Song for the Whole World
- 2
The Water Sellers of Santa Lucia
- 3
The Admiral Who Floated Back
- 4
Faccione and Niccolò Pesce
- 5
The Siren Who Gave the City Its Name
- 6
A City Inside a Bottle
- 7
The Last Emperor, Exiled on an Island
- 8
The Surrender Whose Terms Were Broken
- 9
The Volcano Strabo Saw Sleeping
- 10
Caves, Pirates and a Novelist
- 11
A Garden Closed to Bare Feet
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
Spanish Naples
From Castel Nuovo's towers to the Spanish Quarters, follow two centuries of Spanish power and the Neapolitans' response.
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.