podtour
The Pantheon, the Minerva and Piazza Colonna
In just a few blocks, Rome shows off its favourite trick: never throwing anything away.
From the Quirinale to Via Veneto: audio walk in Rome
Twentieth-century Rome, uphill: the palace of popes, kings and presidents, the king who lasted a month, the street where the Resistance struck in 1944 and that has no plaque, and the Via Veneto that Fellini copied on a film set… minus the hill.
What this walk is about
You start in front of the giants of the Quirinale and the palace from which a French general took a pope away at night, and in whose courtyard Italy's last king said goodbye, after a reign of little more than a month. Along the straight street that leads to Porta Pia, Italy entered Rome. You go down to Via Rasella: on 23 March 1944, a partisan bomb; the next day, the reprisal at the Fosse Ardeatine; today, only bullet holes and no plaque. Then the other Rome climbs into view: a Bernini fountain rebuilt in 1915, a crypt that says "dust, ashes and nothing", the great garden of a family of princes, sold off in plots, the palace of a widowed queen that is now an embassy, and the Via Veneto of La Dolce Vita, which was filmed on a flat copy. You finish with the word this street gave the world: paparazzo.
- Start
- Two naked philosophers
- Finish
- The man called Paparazzo
- Who it is for
- A walk for modern history and film lovers. You don’t need any prior knowledge.
- Languages
- Spanish and British English
- Underfoot
- The walk has slopes or changes in 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
Two naked philosophers
- 2
The pope taken away at night
- 3
The king of May
- 4
The road to the breach
- 5
Via Rasella, 23 March 1944
- 6
The street without a memorial plaque
- 7
The fountain that came back
- 8
Dust, ash and nothing
- 9
The garden that was sold
- 10
The queen and the embassy
- 11
The flat Via Veneto of the films
- 12
The man called Paparazzo
Walking directions are based on mapped pedestrian routes. Check local access and signs; the route is not an accessibility guarantee. Times are approximate.
Rome, before you go
Rome calls for a water bottle, reliable shoes and room for a detour. Its squares link up on foot; the hills and sunshine decide how many you will enjoy in a day.
More walks nearby
The Imperial Forums and the Colosseum
You start at the foot of the Capitol, outside the prison where Rome held its enemies before executing them.
Legends from the Capitoline to the Mouth of Truth
You start at the foot of the long staircase up to the Aracoeli, where the Middle Ages placed Augustus before a sibyl.
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.
iOSAndroidComing soon
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.