podtour
Santiago Cathedral and Its Squares
Walk around the cathedral and its squares to find out how Compostela began. These stones hold traditions, disputes and a carefully chosen hiding place.
The Alameda and Nineteenth-Century Compostela: audio walk in Santiago de Compostela
The city that stepped outside its walls for a stroll: the gate of fish and plague, the Two Marías, some wrongly attributed lions, three walks for three classes, a square that was never built, the saint stolen from Braga, Lorca, Rosalía, the 1909 Exhibition and the finest view of the Cathedral.
What this walk is about
You set off through the Porta Faxeira, the gate where fish and Portuguese pilgrims came into the city. At the entrance to the Alameda, two women in painted bronze are waiting for you: theirs is the story of a family persecuted from 1936 onwards, and of a city that ended up making them a symbol. Then come some lions that never belonged to the city wall, a promenade laid out to give the poor work, three walks divided by class, the great square planned beside the Chapel of the Pilar that was never built, a hill of colts and a saint brought from Braga in a theft her chronicler confessed to. Lorca looks across at Rosalía, the girl baptised as the daughter of unknown parents. The 1909 Exhibition left a pavilion behind; the city, a monument to the man who promoted it. You finish on the Ferradura, before the view of the Cathedral that was opened up in years of hunger.
- Start
- The Gate of Fish and Plague
- Finish
- A View Built in Years of Hunger
- Who it is for
- For another visit, when you want to look beyond the familiar sights. For those interested in social history and memory. A walk for readers of Rosalía de Castro and Lorca.
- 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 Gate of Fish and Plague
- 2
The Two O'Clock Women
- 3
The Brother Who Stayed at Home
- 4
Lions and Poplars Against Revolution
- 5
Three Promenades, Three Santiagos
- 6
The Square That Never Was
- 7
The Hill of the Foals
- 8
A Pious Theft
- 9
Rise, My Friend
- 10
The Exhibition of 1909
- 11
Daughter of Unknown Parents
- 12
Trees from Australia
- 13
A View Built in Years of Hunger
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
University, Market and the Old Streets
Leave Obradoiro for the streets where Santiago studied, shopped and argued. Everyday life here has a cast of its own.
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.
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.
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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.