podtour
Monti and the Suburra
Monti was the Suburra, the noisy neighbourhood Rome hid behind its monuments.
The Caelian and the Circus Maximus: audio walk in Rome
From Rome's quiet hill down to its biggest stadium: a marble ship, the ransom of Cervantes, a saint who ended up in Spain, Agrippina's mushrooms, an obelisk that went back to Ethiopia, and Ovid's advice on flirting at the races.
What this walk is about
On the Caelian there's hardly any traffic, and a great many questions. You start in front of a marble ship that nobody can explain, sitting on top of a hill. Beneath a Roman arch, a mosaic of two slaves leads you to the friars who paid Cervantes' ransom, and to a founder whose body was spirited away to Spain. Beside Santi Giovanni e Paolo stands the platform of the temple Agrippina raised to the husband she poisoned, according to one version recorded by Suetonius; underneath, the Roman houses that tradition gives to two martyrs. Along the Clivo di Scauro, the remains of the library with which a learned cleric hoped Rome could rival the East. At San Gregorio, the legend of some boys up for sale and some very frightened monks. Further down, the corner where, according to a late chronicle, an African emperor set out to impress his countrymen, the square where the Axum obelisk once stood, and the Circus Maximus: Ovid flirting in the stands and Pompey's elephants.
- Start
- A ship on a hill
- Finish
- Pompey's elephants and the missing obelisks
- Who it is for
- For anyone interested in ancient Rome, everyday life and stories of things that came and went. A walk for anyone curious about Spanish connections (Cervantes, John of Matha). 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
A ship on a hill
- 2
The price of a captive
- 3
The saint who went to Spain
- 4
Agrippina's mushrooms
- 5
The house beneath the church
- 6
A library to rival the East
- 7
The gift of a house and some frightened monks
- 8
Angels in the marketplace
- 9
A façade for Africa
- 10
The obelisk returned to Ethiopia
- 11
Flirting at the Circus Maximus
- 12
Pompey's elephants and the missing obelisks
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.
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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.