podtour
Power in Toledo: cathedral, Alcázar and town hall
For centuries Toledo was a capital without a court, and power was shared out among those who stayed.
Toledo's Water and the Alcántara Bridge: audio walk in Toledo
A city surrounded by water that went thirsty: the water that reached the Alcázar, taxes and water carriers, the emperor's clockmaker, a bridge that, according to his supporters, an emir brought down, a flood carved in stone, the castle across the river, the Roman aqueduct and Juanelo's machine.
What this walk is about
Toledo is almost surrounded by the Tagus, and for centuries it hauled its water uphill on the backs of donkeys. This walk goes down from the top of the city to the river. It begins within sight of the Alcázar, where the water of the Artificio, Juanelo's machine, once arrived; it tells of the sisa taxes and the interdicts, and goes down the water carriers' slope with their sealed jars. At the Alcántara Gate, the emperor's clockmaker; on the bridge, the winners' version, which tells how an emir brought it down (the sources don't let us know whether it happened that way, or whether it was even this bridge), and the flood carved on its plaques; on the far side, the castle of San Servando, which was a frontier post, a powder store and a hostel. Back across the bridge, the machines that came before Juanelo's; on the riverbank, the Roman aqueduct that crossed the Tagus and, finally, the Artificio: the machine that lifted the water and that the city refused to pay for.
- Start
- Where the water arrived
- Finish
- The machine that lifted a river
- Who it is for
- A walk for anyone curious about engineering, landscape and everyday life. A walk for walkers (a descent and a climb back up).
- Languages
- Spanish and British English
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
Where the water arrived
- 2
Water taxes and a church ban
- 3
The sealed water jars
- 4
Juanelo, the emperor's clockmaker
- 5
The bridge an emir brought down
- 6
The flood carved in stone
- 7
The castle of San Cervantes
- 8
The castle that stored gunpowder
- 9
Before Juanelo's machine
- 10
The water that crossed the Tagus
- 11
The machine that lifted a river
Walking directions are based on mapped pedestrian routes. Check local access and signs; the route is not an accessibility guarantee. Times are approximate.
Toledo, before you go
Toledo fits into a walk, though rarely a straight line. Good soles and a plan by area do more for the trip than an endless list of monuments.
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.
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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.