Palacio de Rajoy (Rajoy Palace), Santiago de Compostela

The Rajoy Palace is a prominent building that serves as the seat of the City Council and the presidency of the Junta de Galicia.

Constructed in the neoclassical style, the palace was commissioned by the Archbishop of Santiago, Bartolomé Raxoi Losada, in 1766. Its original purpose was to function as a seminary for confessors. The architectural work was entrusted to the French engineer Carlos Lemaur. The palace's façade features a representation of the battle of Clavijo and a sculpture of the Apostle Santiago, adding artistic and historical significance to the structure.

The palace is positioned on the western side of the Plaza del Obradoiro, effectively closing off that side of the square. It stands opposite the main façade of the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. To the right of the palace is the Colegio de San Jerónimo, which currently houses the Rectorate of the University of Santiago. On the left side of the palace is the Hospital Real de los Reyes Católicos, a part of the Paradores Nacionales de España network.

In 2015, when UNESCO approved the extension of the Camino de Santiago in Spain to include the "Caminos de Santiago de Compostela: French Camino and Caminos del Norte de España," the Spanish documentation submitted to UNESCO included a "Retrospective Inventory - Associated Elements." This inventory recognized the Rajoy Palace as item number 912, highlighting its importance in relation to the Camino de Santiago.

The Rajoy Palace stands as a significant architectural and historical landmark in Santiago de Compostela. It symbolizes the region's cultural heritage and serves as a center for civic and governmental activities. Visitors to the Plaza del Obradoiro can appreciate the palace's elegance and its contribution to the rich tapestry of the city's history and identity.