podtour
St Mark's Square: Basilica, Campanile and Bridge of Sighs
You start in front of a theatre named after the phoenix that burned down twice, then head on towards a church paid for to show off a family name, and a neighbour who wrote "God knows all".
Rialto: The Bridge, the Market and the Money: audio walk in Venice
The Venice that bought and sold: Marco Polo, the merchant who counted everything in millions; the Germans' warehouse that burned; the wooden bridge that kept collapsing and the stone one nobody wanted to put their name to; bankers, goldsmiths, Shylock and the retired fishermen of the Pescheria.
What this walk is about
The Rialto was the financial centre of half of Europe, and its market. You start where the Polos lived, between the legend of the jewel banquet and what Marco's will actually says, and where today there's a theatre named after a singer, the daughter of a Spanish tenor. You pass the warehouse of the German merchants, which burned one winter's night and was painted with frescoes not even Vasari could understand; you look at the bridge that collapsed under the sightseers, meet the goldsmiths who made a helmet for Suleiman and hear about the night in 1514 when the whole of the Rialto burned except one church. Then come the stone hunchback that condemned men had to kiss, the bank that moved money without coins, the stone bridge finished in 1591 and the fish market of the old fishermen.
- Start
- Marco Polo's banquet of jewels
- Finish
- The retired fishermen
- Who it is for
- A walk for anyone curious about economics and everyday life and literature (Shakespeare).
- 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.
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- 1
Marco Polo's banquet of jewels
- 2
The will, Pietro the Tatar and the Malibran Theatre
- 3
The Fondaco burns
- 4
The frescoes nobody understood
- 5
The bridge that kept collapsing
- 6
Rialto's goldsmiths and Suleiman's helmet
- 7
The night Rialto burned
- 8
The tower that raised the alarm
- 9
The hunchback everyone kissed
- 10
The bankers of the Rialto
- 11
The bridge everyone wanted to design
- 12
The retired fishermen
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
Zanipolo and Santa Maria Formosa: Heroes, Doges and Brides
You start in front of a marble church paid for with offerings to a street-corner image, and cross a bridge from which a bronze horse suddenly appears: Bartolomeo Colleoni left his money to Venice on one condition, which the Republic met in its own way.
The Doge's Palace from Outside: Conspiracies, Prisons and Casanova
The Republic defended itself with stone, silence and erased memory.
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.