Quintana square, Square in Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Quintana square consists of two separate levels defined by stone walls, creating distinct upper and lower sections in front of the cathedral. The layout connects multiple entrances to the holy building and provides different perspectives of its architecture from various heights.

The square took its present form in the 16th century, when the cathedral chapter decided to turn the medieval cemetery of the Quintana de Mortos into a public square. The work was carried out by the master builder Francisco Fernández de Araújo, commissioned by the cathedral canon José Vega y Verdugo, and finished around 1611. The same campaign closed the cathedral's eastern facade with a continuous screen wall covering the apse and its chapels.

The square's name reflects two distinct zones: Quintana de Mortos for the dead and Quintana de Vivos for the living, marking a medieval separation between cemetery and gathering place. Visitors today still move through these two areas, with the architecture itself preserving this historical division of purpose.

The square is fully pedestrian and links directly to the cathedral through multiple accesses without obstacles. The two levels are connected by stairs and gentle ramps, making it easy to move between different parts of the space.

The Berenguela tower stands on the west side of the cathedral, not the east, and its door faces the Quintana de Vivos. From the corbels at the top of the Casa da Parra, a CRTVG webcam refreshes its image every two seconds and covers a viewing angle of about 90 degrees over the square.