NEXT year will be an important year for visitors to Rome and also Santiago de Compostela, as 2016 has been declared a Holy Year of Mercy by Pope Francis.
Special events will take place in both cities, and Santiago Cathedral officials have confirmed the Holy Door of the cathedral (Porta Santa) will be open for the Year of Mercy.
So what is a holy year and what happens during it?
Holy years, or jubilee years, only take place every 25 years, unless the Pope requests an extraordinary one to highlight a specific topic. In this case, Pope Francis has declared 2016 a Holy Year of Mercy.
During the year the Vatican will host special celebrations for the millions of visitors expected in Rome. The number of pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago are also expected to increase.
If you're planning on travelling to Rome or Santiago de Compostela for special dates such as Easter and other important religious events during the year, you should plan well in advance to secure accommodation.
CaminoWays.com has many departure dates for guided tours from March to October.
