It lies to the West of the main façade of the Santiago de Compostela cathedral, and thus the Pórtico da Gloria must be crossed to get into the building from the square.

[citation needed] The floor is decorated by eight rays starting from the center, where a plaque commemorates the World Heritage Site pilgrims' way of Camiño de Santiago, whose final target is around here.

[citation needed] The monumental center of Santiago de Compostela witnesses the history of an ancient city: Praza do Obradoiro (a word that describes the work place of the craftsmen) is one of the most beautiful and renowned squares in Spain and the monumental center of the ancient city of Santiago de Compostela.

[citation needed] The buildings that delimit precisely this Square of the Obradoiro are the Palace of Rajoy, that closes for its western part just in front of the main facade of the Cathedral of Santiago (the most photographed image of the city); The Hostal de los Reyes Católicos and finally the San Jerónimo College, now the seat of the rectorate of the University of Santiago.

The Obradoiro is a place of joy and incessant hustle and bustle, both of the pilgrims who finally reach their goal and of the numerous groups that come to Santiago to visit its imposing monumental heritage.