podtour
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.
The Imperial Forums and the Colosseum: audio walk in Rome
From the outside, no tickets needed: the prison for Rome's enemies, a column that measures a hill, the tower Nero didn't watch Rome burn from, the forum that cost a fortune, a wall against fire, an avenue that wiped out a neighbourhood, the Colosseum, named after a statue, and the street that, legend has it, the popes avoided.
What this walk is about
You start at the foot of the Capitol, outside the prison where Rome held its enemies before executing them. Then you follow the Via dei Fori Imperiali. The base of Trajan's Column says how tall a hill was dug away; the Torre delle Milizie carries a myth about Nero that the ancient sources contradict; Caesar paid a fortune for a building plot, and Augustus put up a gigantic wall against fire and against the neighbours. A medieval tower that partly collapsed in 2025, a set of marble maps and the avenue Fascism opened on top of an entire neighbourhood lead you to the Colosseum: why it's called that, and who paid for it. Right beside it starts the street that, legend has it, the popes avoided because of a female pope who never existed; and then, how much truth there is in the amphitheatre's martyrs and in its prophecy. You finish at the Arch of Constantine.
- Start
- Twelve feet underground
- Finish
- By divine inspiration
- Who it is for
- A good starting point for your first visit. A walk for anyone curious about imperial Rome. Plan your walk without booking an entry ticket.
- 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.
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- 1
Twelve feet underground
- 2
The column that measures a hill
- 3
Nero, a lyre and the wrong tower
- 4
A hundred million for a plot of land
- 5
The wall against fire and poverty
- 6
The tower that came down
- 7
The avenue that erased a neighbourhood
- 8
The colossus behind the Colosseum's name
- 9
The nail holes that reveal the spoils of war
- 10
The street the popes avoided
- 11
Martyrs and a prophecy
- 12
By divine inspiration
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
From the Quirinale to Via Veneto
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.
Rome's Ghetto and Tiber Island
You start in Piazza Mattei, at a fountain that was meant for the Jewish square and ended up at a nobleman's door.
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.