podtour
The Doge's Palace from Outside: Conspiracies, Prisons and Casanova
The Republic defended itself with stone, silence and erased memory.
St Mark's Square: Basilica, Campanile and Bridge of Sighs: audio walk in Venice
A first walk round Venice's most famous square: a saint smuggled out of Alexandria under pork, four horses that went to Paris and came back, a bell tower that fell without killing anyone, and a bridge that was never for lovers.
See the walkFree route
What this walk is about
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". You enter Venice's drawing room by a café that opened in 1720, find out why the water reaches here before anywhere else, and meet whoever strikes the hours from the top of the clock tower. The basilica tells you how to steal a saint and where its horses came from; the Campanile, how a giant falls and why the Senate almost doubled Galileo's salary when he came down. You finish by the sea, between two columns and a well-travelled lion, beside the Bridge of Sighs, with the story of the bridge next door that really did have reason to sigh. All from the street, no tickets needed.
- Start
- The theatre named after a phoenix
- Finish
- Sighs, straw and drowned men
- Who it is for
- A good starting point for your first visit. For anyone curious about famous landmarks and their stories. You can also enjoy it as a family.
- 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 theatre named after a phoenix
- 2
The Fini façade and Veronica Franco
- 3
A café through revolution and revolt
- 4
Venice's lowest square
- 5
The Moors who tell the time
- 6
Four horses with return tickets
- 7
St Mark's journey beneath the pork
- 8
The giant that fell on its own
- 9
Galileo climbs the bell tower
- 10
Four emperors and a heel in Istanbul
- 11
The missing third column
- 12
Sighs, straw and drowned men
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
From the Frari to San Barnaba: Painters, Punches and Players
A neighbourhood walk with a big cast.
From the Accademia to the Salute along the Zattere
You start by the Accademia Bridge, which the city council laughed at in 1488, which was built as a "temporary" bridge in 1933 and, rebuilt in the same shape, is still there; and in front of the galleries where the painting hangs that got Veronese questioned by the Inquisition.
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.