Santiago de Compostela City Hall

Santiago de Compostela City Hall (Pazo de Raxoi) closes off the western side of Praza do Obradoiro in Santiago de Compostela, standing directly opposite the cathedral's main façade, and today houses the local municipal government.

What is this building?

Pazo de Raxoi is a neoclassical palace built in the second half of the 18th century on the initiative of the Archbishop of Compostela, Bartolomé Raxoi y Losada. Construction was overseen by the French engineer Carlos Lemaur, who gave the building a French neoclassical character: a long, arcaded loggia raised on a colonnade of rounded arches, topped by a colossal order in the manner associated with François Mansart's palace designs. The palace was originally meant to serve several purposes at once — a seminary for confessors, quarters for the cathedral's choirboys, acolytes and priests, and in part a prison and town hall. Over time the administrative role took over, and the building is now the seat of the Concello (city council) of Santiago de Compostela. After Spain's return to democracy it also briefly hosted the presidency of the Xunta de Galicia, although the regional government has long since moved to its own headquarters outside the old town.

What will you see on the façade?

The building's centerpiece is the pediment above the colonnade, carved in relief with a scene of the Battle of Clavijo, the legendary clash in which the apostle Saint James is said to have aided Christian forces. The composition was designed by the Galician painter Gregorio Ferro and carved in marble by sculptors José Gambino and José Ferreiro. Above the attic stands a statue of Saint James depicted as a pilgrim-knight, visible from across the square. The façade itself rests on a granite colonnade with rounded arches, which lightens the visual weight of an otherwise monumental structure. Walking around the square to view the palace framed against the cathedral is one of the most photographed sightlines in the city.

How do you get to Praza do Obradoiro?

The square sits at the very heart of the old town, within the medieval street layout listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so it is a short walk from anywhere in the historic center. For pilgrims finishing the Camino de Santiago, the square is a natural endpoint, with most of the route's final stretches feeding into it through one of the surrounding lanes. Car traffic is heavily restricted in this part of the city, so arriving on foot via Rúa do Franco, Rúa das Casas Reais or Rúa da Raíña is the most practical option. The nearest large car parks sit just outside the pedestrian zone, a few minutes' walk from the square.

When should you visit?

The square and the palace's exterior can be visited year-round, while the administrative interior is not open to casual tourist visits. The quietest time on the square is early morning, before day-trip crowds and pilgrim groups completing the Camino arrive in numbers. In the evening the building is often illuminated, creating a striking contrast with the lit-up cathedral across the square. Seeing the plaza both in daylight and after dark is worth building into a visit.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside Pazo de Raxoi? The building functions as a working city hall, so its interior is not routinely open to tourists; most visitors experience it from the square.

Why is there a battle scene on the façade? The relief depicts the Battle of Clavijo, linking the figure of Saint James symbolically to both local history and the Camino de Santiago tradition.

Who designed the building? The French engineer Carlos Lemaur directed the design and construction in the 18th century, commissioned by Archbishop Bartolomé Raxoi y Losada.

Was city government always based here? No — the palace originally combined a seminary, quarters for clergy and choirboys, and in part a prison, before it evolved into the full seat of the municipal administration.