podtour
Witches and Wandering Souls: Compostela's Legends
From Quintana to Bonaval, Santiago tells stories of shadows, witches and wandering souls. Some are much younger than you might expect.
Compostela in Revolt: audio walk in Santiago de Compostela
Three centuries of struggle between the townspeople and their lord: one archbishop stoned, another shut inside his own cathedral, shoemakers against the Chapter, a letter from the king that the king denied signing, and seventeen canons held prisoner on the roof.
What this walk is about
Compostela had a lord, the archbishop, and it didn't always want him. You start at a gate that no longer exists, the one the city handed to a French archbishop before shutting him inside his cathedral for thirteen days. In the Quintana, the archbishop who fled his afternoon rest under a hail of stones, and the shoemakers who asked whether excommunication was white or black. Then a royal decree the king said he'd never signed, the tower an archbishop finished so he'd never be trapped again, a count installed in the Cathedral, a truce beside the Mazarelos arch and the great siege of 1466, with canons held prisoner on the roof and Platerías in flames. You finish in the Toural, on the day the city, on its own, opened its gates again.
- Start
- The City That Closed Its Gates
- Finish
- The City of the Brotherhood
- Who it is for
- For another visit, when you want to look beyond the familiar sights. A walk for history lovers. Written for adults.
- 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 City That Closed Its Gates
- 2
A Mass at the Rocha
- 3
Stones on the Altar
- 4
White or Black?
- 5
A City Belonging to the King
- 6
The Tower of a Man Who Would Not Be Trapped Again
- 7
The Count in the Cathedral
- 8
A Truce Beside the Gate
- 9
Prisoners Above the Vaults
- 10
Fire in Platerías
- 11
The Cathedral Chapter Comes Down from the Roof
- 12
The City of the Brotherhood
Walking directions are based on mapped pedestrian routes. Check local access and signs; the route is not an accessibility guarantee. Times are approximate.
Santiago de Compostela, before you go
Granite, arcades and squares where someone has always just arrived. Santiago invites a slower walk, with a layer handy and time to wait for a shower to pass.
More walks nearby
The Camino Arrives in Compostela
Reaching Santiago was only part of the story. Follow the pilgrims through streets of traders, hospitals and religious houses built around their arrival.
The Women of Compostela
Behind the convent walls were women who resisted, escaped and changed what was possible. Meet them on the way from San Paio to Belvís.
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.
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One city per person. All its Podtour routes in Spanish and English. Available at launch. Offer details.