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".
The Doge's Palace from Outside: Conspiracies, Prisons and Casanova: audio walk in Venice
The dark side of St Mark's, without paying for a ticket: a neighbour who stopped a revolt with a mortar, a doge erased from history, a Spanish ambassador nobody dared touch, and Casanova walking out of the Leads through the main door.
What this walk is about
The Republic defended itself with stone, silence and erased memory. On this walk through the Piazzetta, the Molo and the Riva, you'll hear how a neighbour stopped a conspiracy from her window, what was put on display on a stone beside the basilica, and which legend explains two burning lamps. You'll meet the doge who plotted against his own city and ended up covered by a black cloth, see the scaffold between the columns, and hear about the May morning in 1618 when men were found hanging and a Spanish ambassador had to leave. Then come the Leads and Casanova's escape: he didn't leap from the roofs into the canal, he walked out through the main door. You finish at San Zaccaria, the church beside which two doges died.
- Start
- The neighbour and her mortar
- Finish
- San Zaccaria and the doge's cap
- Who it is for
- For another visit, when you want to look beyond the familiar sights. A walk for anyone curious about historical intrigue.
- 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 neighbour and her mortar
- 2
The stone where proclamations were read
- 3
The baker and the two lights
- 4
Faliero, the insult and the sailors' plot
- 5
Why did the doge conspire?
- 6
The doge erased from the record
- 7
Between the two columns
- 8
May 1618: the Spanish ambassador
- 9
The Leads prison and the midnight letter
- 10
Straight to Fusina, without looking at anyone
- 11
The doge who changed his route
- 12
San Zaccaria and the doge's cap
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
Rialto: The Bridge, the Market and the Money
The Rialto was the financial centre of half of Europe, and its market.
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.
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.
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One city per person. All its Podtour routes in Spanish and English. Available at launch. Offer details.