podtour
San Polo and Santa Croce: Courtesans, Turks and Runaway Lovers
Away from the queues, between Santa Croce and San Polo, Venice shows you how it kept control of anyone who didn't fit in.
Legends and Crimes of Cannaregio: audio walk in Venice
The legends and crimes of Tintoretto's neighbourhood, each with its date: a statue that wrote a satirical newspaper, some merchants nobody ever turned to stone, the house of spirits, the island of the dead, a friar stabbed as he came down a bridge and a murder on the way out of an opera rehearsal.
What this walk is about
Cannaregio is the district where Venetians live, and where they keep their stories. You start in front of Sior Antonio Rioba, the iron-nosed statue that put his name to a newspaper in 1848, and the house where Tintoretto asked not to be buried until three days had passed. You'll hear what lies behind the "petrified" merchants, the Madonna found in a vegetable garden and the Casino of the Spirits, where an echo from the far shore did the rest. From the Sacca you look out at the island of the dead and at the Fondamente Nove, the waterfront where Venetians went for healthy air and games of racquets, then carry on to a stone Madonna that ended up in London, a senseless brawl in 1627 and the bridge where the friar who defended the Republic against the Pope was stabbed. At the Maddalena you meet Anna Erizzo, the heroine of Negroponte, whom a writer gave a cradle here and whose father, a bachelor according to the documents, most likely never had her. You finish at the palace where a nobleman was killed on his way out of an opera rehearsal and where, two centuries later, Wagner spent his last winter. Legend, told as legend; crime, with its paperwork.
- Start
- The man with the iron nose
- Finish
- Wagner's last winter
- Who it is for
- A walk for anyone curious about mystery and legends. For anyone looking for quieter neighbourhoods.
- Languages
- Spanish and British English
- Underfoot
- 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 man with the iron nose
- 2
Three days waiting, a daughter dressed as a boy
- 3
The camel and the merchants never turned to stone
- 4
The Madonna in the orchard
- 5
The house called the Casino of the Spirits
- 6
The new waterfront and the island of the dead
- 7
A new shore for tennis, kings and healthy air
- 8
The Madonna who went to London
- 9
The dinner guests who didn't recognise each other
- 10
The stiletto at Santa Fosca
- 11
The daughter the ambassador never had
- 12
Murder after the opera
- 13
Wagner's last winter
Walking directions are based on mapped pedestrian routes. Check local access and signs; the route is not an accessibility guarantee. Times are approximate.
Venice, before you go
In Venice, the shortest way depends on finding a bridge. Set off lightly loaded, in good shoes, with patience for the detours the water imposes.
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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One city per person. All its Podtour routes in Spanish and English. Available at launch. Offer details.