The Praza do Obradoiro is main square of the Santiago de Compostela old town, although not placed at the real centre. 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. It is surrounded by four important buildings, said to represent the four powers of the city: the aforementioned Santiago de Compostela cathedral to the East, Hostal dos Reis Católicos to the North, Pazo de Raxoi to the West and the Colexio de San Xerome to the South. Once being crossed by cars, now is mainly pedestrian as the rest of the old town, with only traffic for taxis and loading delivery lorries.
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.