podtour
The Pantheon, the Minerva and Piazza Colonna
In just a few blocks, Rome shows off its favourite trick: never throwing anything away.
Piazza del Popolo and Via Margutta: audio walk in Rome
Rome's northern gate and the street where the artists lived: Nero and his devils, a queen who made a triumphal entry, two churches pretending to be twins, Goethe in disguise, Fellini, Picasso in love and a partisan painter called Giordano Bruno.
What this walk is about
For centuries, almost everyone arriving in Rome from the north came in through this gate. You start where, according to a legend a pilgrim heard in 1452, Nero's devils lived in a walnut tree. You'll see the gate Bernini reworked for a queen without a throne, a memorial stone that argues with the records, two churches pretending to be identical, and the corner where a woman was born who went on to run a revolutionary newspaper in Naples. Goethe tells you about the carnival on the Corso. Then you turn into Via Margutta: Fellini the cartoonist before he was Fellini, the painter who shared his name with the philosopher of Campo de' Fiori and died for freedom, the house from Roman Holiday, and the studio where Picasso worked on a ballet and fell in love. You finish at the Babuino, the statue so ugly it renamed a street, and the workshop that trades on Canova's name, a short walk from the Spanish Steps.
- Start
- The devils in the walnut tree
- Finish
- The studio that wasn't Canova's
- Who it is for
- A walk for anyone curious about art, film and remarkable characters. You don’t need any prior knowledge.
- Languages
- Spanish and British English
- Underfoot
- The walk is mostly level. There are cobbles or uneven surfaces.
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 devils in the walnut tree
- 2
The queen who entered in triumph
- 3
Without evidence, says the inscription
- 4
The twin churches that aren't twins
- 5
The girl who became a revolutionary editor
- 6
The baron across the street
- 7
Caricatures for soldiers
- 8
The painter called Giordano Bruno
- 9
Joe Bradley's apartment
- 10
Picasso, a ballet and Olga
- 11
The statue called the Baboon
- 12
The studio that wasn't Canova's
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
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.