This facade looks out over the Plaza del Obradoiro, which takes its name from the stonemasons' workshop (obradoiro, in Galician) that was located there during cathedral construction. Since the 16th century, its façade and its towers have undergone numerous modifications to preserve the Pórtico de la Gloria from the destruction it was suffering due to the severe weather. The current Baroque facade, designed by Fernando de Casas Novoa, was commissioned in the 18th century. Located between the two towers of Las Campanas and La Carraca, its antique Romanesque façade is lighted by enormous glass windows. Saint James the Apostle is seated in the midst of the central body, with his two followers Athanasius and Theodore below him. In the center, among the angels and clouds, are an urn (representing the tomb) and a star (representing the stars seen by the hermit Pelayo). Mary Salome, the mother of Saint James, resides in the right tower, while his father, Zebedee, resides in the left tower. On the left hand balustrade, you can see Saint Susanna and Saint John, and on the right hand balustrade, you can see Saint Barbara and Saint James the Less.

The staircase leading up to the entrance of the façade was built in the 17th century by Ginés Martnez in the Renaissance style inspired by that of Jacopo Vignola in the Farnese Palace. It takes the shape of a rhombus with two ramps that surround the entrance to the old Romanesque crypt from the 12th century by Maestro Mateo, also known as the "Old Cathedral."

A covered narthex connects the current plane of the Obradoiro façade to the ancient Romanesque entryway (Portico de la Gloria).

This entrance has come to represent Santiago de Compostela and its cathedral. The engraving on the reverse of Spanish coins worth 1, 2, and 5 euro cents attests to its representativeness.

Many inefficiencies in the original design were revealed during a 2014 façade restoration.