Obradoiro Square hosts a reading on 27 September
Published on 09/27/2026 at 15:40 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Obradoiro Square hosted the Compostela le no Obradoiro reading in Santiago de Compostela on 27 September 2026. The gathering served as a prelude to the Semana do Libro de Compostela, known as SELIC, which begins on 2 October.
The event took place in the square before the tenth edition of the city book festival. Its focus was simple: participants brought a book and read silently together in one of Spain's most recognisable historic spaces.
Compostela le no Obradoiro opened SELIC on 27 September
The reading was organised as a public literary gathering and was supported by booksellers Iria Beiroa and Roi Rivera, who now run the Aenea bookshop. The event was presented as an open invitation for people of all ages, with a book as the only stated requirement.
The date links the square to the next stage of the literary programme. SELIC runs from 2 to 11 October 2026 in nearby Quintana Square, where the programme includes book-related activities and 24 publishing, bookselling and editorial projects. The reading therefore used Obradoiro Square as the opening setting for a festival that continues elsewhere in the historic centre. Details of the 27 September reading
Obradoiro Square connects four sides of Santiago history
The square is the monumental centre of Santiago de Compostela. Its east side is occupied by the Cathedral, while Rajoy Palace faces the cathedral from the west. San Jerónimo College represents the university on the southern side, and the Hostal dos Reis Católicos stands to the north.
Tourism officials say the name comes from the stoneworkers' workshops used during construction of the Cathedral's baroque west façade. The surrounding buildings bring together baroque, neoclassical, transitional Gothic and Renaissance architecture, making the square a concentrated view of more than 700 years of construction. Official square guide
The reading added a temporary literary use to a place shaped by pilgrimage, civic government, university life and hospitality. That connection between books and the square's four institutions was the distinctive feature of the 27 September programme.
Visiting Obradoiro Square: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Compostela le no Obradoiro reading took place on 27 September 2026 at Obradoiro Square in Santiago de Compostela.
- The gathering was organised as a public reading, and participants were asked to bring a book and read silently. The listed event information does not state a ticket price.
- The square is in the historic centre of Santiago de Compostela, directly beside the Cathedral and opposite Rajoy Palace. It is also beside San Jerónimo College and the Hostal dos Reis Católicos.
- The setting is an open granite-paved historic square. Travellers should expect a monumental urban surface rather than a separate enclosed cultural venue.
- Spain's official language is Spanish, while Galician is also official in Galicia. The currency is the euro.
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Frequently asked questions about Obradoiro Square
When did Compostela le no Obradoiro take place at Obradoiro Square?
The public reading took place on 27 September 2026 in Santiago de Compostela, ahead of the Semana do Libro de Compostela.
What is Obradoiro Square?
It is the monumental centre of Santiago de Compostela, surrounded by the Cathedral, Rajoy Palace, San Jerónimo College and the Hostal dos Reis Católicos.
Where is Obradoiro Square and how do you get there?
The square is in the historic centre of Santiago de Compostela, beside the Cathedral and within the city's main monumental area.
