Self-Guided Walk, Sights Hunt

Padua becomes a puzzle on this self-guided scavenger hunt. Follow a route past Piazza delle Erbe, Palazzo della Ragione and other landmarks, solving clues on your phone as you go. It takes about 2 hours, and you set the pace.

Overview

A phone app, a six digit code and a starting point at Prato della Valle are all that stand between you and a riddle-driven walk through Padova. There is no guide and no fixed start time. The Explorial app sends you from one landmark to the next, with puzzles, trivia and photo tasks to solve at each stop, and a points system so members of your group can compete against each other and try to beat the city's high score.

The route threads through the old town's legend-heavy landmarks. You puzzle over the Tomba di Antenore, the medieval tomb claimed to hold the city's mythical founder, a Trojan hero. You pass Palazzo del Bo, seat of the university where Galileo lectured for 18 years. And you approach the domes of the Basilica di Sant'Antonio, one of Italy's great pilgrimage churches. The whole thing takes around 2 hours, though nothing stops you taking longer, and all the puzzles play out in public areas, so no entrance fees are needed.

It suits travellers who like to move at their own pace and discover a city through clues rather than a commentary. The game runs in 24 languages, chosen in the app when you start. Several reviewers said the format led them to places and stories they would otherwise have walked straight past.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Start at Prato della ValleOpen the app, enter your six digit game code and begin whenever you like. There is no meeting point attendant and no fixed departure time.
2. Tomba di AntenoreSolve riddles around the medieval tomb said to hold Padova's mythical founder, a Trojan hero, on a street corner of the old town.
3. Palazzo del BoReach the historic seat of the university, where Galileo lectured for 18 years, via phone-based clues.
4. Basilica di Sant'AntonioApproach the domes of one of Italy's great pilgrimage churches. All puzzles relate to the public areas of the sights, so no entry tickets are involved.
5. Finish back at Prato della ValleThe route loops back to the starting point, where the activity ends.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will make the game run smoothly, from phone setup to footwear.

• Bring a charged phone. A smartphone with an active mobile data connection is required, iOS or Android. The listing warns against VPNs and city Wi-Fi, which can cause the app to malfunction or disconnect.
• Walking and shoes. Expect roughly 2 hours of light walking. The listing recommends comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing.
• Start anytime. There is no fixed start time and the game runs daily within long operating hours. Several reviewers said the flexibility to take breaks and linger at each stop was a highlight.
• Group feel. It is a private activity for your group only, with a maximum of 15 people per booking. Larger groups need multiple bookings, and everyone joins with the same game code.
• App glitches. A reviewer reported occasional glitches, and restarting the app solved them. Worth knowing before you set off, so a hiccup does not derail the walk.
• Weather cover. If bad weather or illness stops you starting, the listing allows you to reschedule, rebook to a different city, or request a refund.

Common issues. This is fully self-guided, so anyone expecting narration or commentary will be disappointed: one reviewer found the lack of walking instructions and explanation a real problem. A couple of travellers ran into app glitches, though restarting fixed them, and one reviewer reported being unable to reach customer service. The activity is not wheelchair accessible, and it is a game rather than an audio guide, which may not suit visitors who simply want a narrated tour.

Common Questions