podtour
Myths and Mysteries of Porto
Porto is full of stories that everybody repeats.
Miragaia, the River Quarter: audio walk in Porto
Walk down from the Virtudes to the banks of the Douro through the neighbourhood hardly anyone visits: a fountain said to heal, a workers' ilha, the beach where ships were built, the Armenians who brought one of the city's patron saints, a lost synagogue, the giant customs house, the convent where Camilo's heroine dies, and the cheap housing that grew out of its remains.
What this walk is about
Miragaia is five minutes from the Ribeira and feels like another world. You start at the Fonte das Virtudes, where the washerwomen never stopped, and walk down a street of steps to the one where a doorway marked "55" hides an ilha, the little workers' houses that grew up behind the street fronts. Down below was the shipyard beach: the sailors' church, the street of the Armenians who brought the relics of one of Porto's patron saints, and a fountain that ended up below street level. You'll meet the poet born here who lost his wedding in Brazil, the Jewish quarter that gave its name to a flight of steps, and the customs house that swallowed the beach, with a new street that took down more than two hundred buildings. You climb to the flag that stopped the ships, the palace of the mermaids and the Monchique convent, where Camilo let his heroine die, and you finish at the Bairro Ignez, the piece of convent that became a nail factory and then cheap housing.
- Start
- The fountain and the buried stream
- Finish
- The convent that became affordable homes
- Who it is for
- For anyone looking for a less touristy Porto. For people interested in everyday life and neighbourhoods.
- Languages
- Spanish and British English
- Underfoot
- The walk has slopes or changes in 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
The fountain and the buried stream
- 2
The number 55 on the old city wall
- 3
The beach where the ships were built
- 4
The Armenians and the city's saint
- 5
Was this the port of Portus Cale?
- 6
The spoon fountain below street level
- 7
The poet whose wedding never happened
- 8
A stone from the Monchique synagogue
- 9
The customs house that swallowed a neighbourhood
- 10
The flag that stopped the ships
- 11
Mermaids and the violence of 1809
- 12
Teresa's lookout and Camilo's Monchique
- 13
The convent that became affordable homes
Walking directions are based on mapped pedestrian routes. Check local access and signs; the route is not an accessibility guarantee. Times are approximate.
Porto, before you go
Tiled façades, steps and pauses with the Douro in view: Porto is made for measured walks. Group nearby places together; the map draws much easier lines than your legs will find.
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.
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One city per person. All its Podtour routes in Spanish and English. Available at launch. Offer details.