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.
Spanish Naples: audio walk in Naples
Two centuries of Spanish Naples, told in the street: an Aragonese king's arch, a Navarrese engineer's mine, a real crocodile, the city that said no to the Inquisition, Viceroy Toledo's empty tomb, his street, Caravaggio's last painting and the Quarter he laid out for his soldiers.
What this walk is about
You start in front of the marble arch that Alfonso of Aragon slotted between two towers to celebrate his entry into the city, and beneath it you discover the story of the bronze door that a French king carried off and that ended up with a cannonball stuck in it. In the same castle, a Navarrese shepherd turned corsair blew the walls open in 1503, and the legend of a crocodile that devoured prisoners turns out to have a real crocodile behind it. In the square by the town hall, the whole of Naples stands up to the viceroy to keep out the Spanish Inquisition. In the church of the Spaniards, a grand tomb is waiting with a surprise, and from there you step out onto Via Toledo, the street the viceroy laid out. In a palace on that street, Caravaggio's last painting was left to dry in the sun. Then you enter the Spanish Quarter: a saint women still pray to for children, the theatre a blacksmith built, and the grid designed for soldiers that became the most Neapolitan neighbourhood of all, with a mural that sums it up.
- Start
- A Triumphal Arch Between Two Towers
- Finish
- A Mural on a Corner
- Who it is for
- A walk for anyone curious about Spanish legacy and history.
- Languages
- Spanish and British English
- Underfoot
- The walk is mostly level. 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 Triumphal Arch Between Two Towers
- 2
The Door with a Bullet in It
- 3
The Navarrese Soldier's Mine
- 4
The Castle's Crocodile
- 5
The City That Refused the Inquisition
- 6
The Viceroy's Empty Tomb
- 7
A Street for the Viceroy
- 8
Caravaggio's Last Painting
- 9
The Saint of the Alley
- 10
The Blacksmith's First Theatre
- 11
Barracks for the Soldiers
- 12
A Mural on a Corner
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
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.
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.
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.