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Reykjavik is Iceland’s and the world’s northernmost state capital. The city is beautifully located at the coast of the blue Atlantic Ocean and with the Icelandic mountain masses on the horizon to almost all sides. It is a good introduction to the impressive nature that awaits outside the city where every trip to volcanic Iceland is unforgettable.
A trip to Reykjavik is also a visit to the saga island with its old Nordic traditions, language and gastronomy, which is naturally characterized by the many fish from the seas around the island and the warm volcanic subsoil. It is a city like nowhere else in the world.
The majority of the Icelandic population lives in the Reykjavik metropolitan area, and here you find large cultural institutions, museums and other things that make a city break exciting. The area around Lake Tjörnin is a good place to start, the city’s fine town hall is beautifully located on the lake’s northern shore.
The center of Reykjavik is characterized by a charming small metropolitan atmosphere, where the cathedral and the Icelandic parliament are among the sights. At the top of the city stands the impressive church Hallgrímskirkja, which can be seen at a long distance from several places in the city. Reykjavik and Iceland also offer martime history and northern lights, and along the harbor and the water there are good opportunities to experience both things.
Iceland introduced Christianity in the year 1000, and at first the local chiefs functioned as a kind of priests, and the first churches were built at the chiefs’ farms. Over time, Skálholt, located inland to the east of Reykjavik, became the country’s religious center, and remained so until the end of the 18th century.
King Christian VII Reykjavik’s cathedral was built here in 1787-1796 by court architect A. Kirkerup. However, the building was rebuilt in 1847 by L.A. Winstrup, who was King Christian VIII’s court architect. It was done in the neoclassical style, which can still be seen.
Inside the impressive church you should see the altarpiece, which was painted by G.T. Wegener at the Royal Academy of Arts in Copenhagen in 1847. The baptismal font was made by the world-famous Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, who had Icelandic roots. The baptismal font was made in Rome in 1827 and erected in the cathedral in 1839.
Every year since 1845, Dómkirkjan has formed the setting for a mass and a ceremony on the occasion of the opening of the Icelandic parliament. The parliament is located in the neighboring building, and after the church service everyone walks there together from the church.
Hallgrímskirkja is one of Reykjavík’s most famous and distinctive buildings. With a height of 74 metres, the church rises above almost everything else in the city and thereby characterizes the capital’s silhouette from afar. In the high tower there is access to an observation deck from which you can enjoy an impressive view of the city and the surrounding area.
Hallgrimskirkja is Iceland’s largest church, and the sky-high architecture is inspired by the country’s columnar basalt in the same way as Þjóðleikhúsið, the Icelandic national theatre, which, like Hallgrímskirkja, also has Guðjón Samúelsson as its architect.
The church is named after Hallgrímur Pétursson, probably Iceland’s most read and loved poet. Pétursson lived in the 17th century, was a priest and wrote, among other things, the so-called Passíusálmarnir, which are 50 poetic, religious texts.
The church was designed in 1937, and construction began in 1945. It wasn’t until 1986 that the entire building was completed. The church organ with 5,275 pipes was built in Boon, Germany and installed in 1992. Apart from that, the interior is extremely simple in design.
In front of the church is a statue of the Viking Leif Eriksson, also called Leif the Lucky, who was the first European to come to North America, which he called Vinland. The statue is a gift from the United States, which gave it in 1930 to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the Icelandic government.
Árbær Open Air Museum is a place that partly displays various houses from Reykjavik’s history and partly provides a good insight into living conditions in the Icelandic capital.
The museum was established when, in the 20th century, there was a fear that the old Reykjavik would disappear with the modernization of the city. The idea of a museum arose concretely in 1942, and in 1954 it became a reality. In 1958, the museum opened its doors to the public on the former farm Árbær, whose land was to house buildings of historical value.
Today you can go exploring and see, among other things, an old shop, a smithy and a former church.
The Höfdi house was built in 1909 as a residence for the French consul Brillouin. It was built in Norway, imported to Iceland and fitted out according to French wishes. Among other things, you can still see today the letters RF, which stands for République Française.
After a few years, the house was sold for the first time. Later, the British vice-consul bought the house, which was the British embassy until 1951. Among the many famous people who have visited Höfdi can be mentioned Winston Churchill in 1941 and a few years later Marlene Dietrich.
Höfdi was dilapidated when the city government bought it from the English. It was actually supposed to be demolished, but the municipality’s architect had it renovated instead, and it thus remained standing.
Now it is Reykjavik’s premises for representative purposes, and many guests have been here; regents from e.g. Denmark, England and Norway as well as presidents. In world history, it formed the framework for the summit between the Soviet Union’s Michael Gorbachev and the United States’ Ronald Reagan in October 1986. It was a meeting that helped pave the way for the end of the Cold War.
The Althingi/Alþingi is Iceland’s parliament, and its form of government dates back to the settlement period, when the clans first met for an Althing in the year 930. In more recent times, the Althingi was given the legislative power for Icelandic affairs by the constitution of 1874.
After this, it was decided to build Alþingishúsið, which was designed by the Danish architect Ferdinand Meldahl. The building material is hewn stone from the volcanic rock diabase, and the building was completed in 1881.
In the years 1911-1940, the University of Reykjavik was housed on one of the floors, and until 1973 the country’s president had his office here. It was also here in the Alting that the Republic of Iceland was officially founded in 1944.
Over time, the need for administration in connection with Parliament has increased, and in these years a larger and modern extension of Alþingishúsið is being built.
At the Icelandic National Gallery, you can experience the place’s permanent collection of art from Iceland and abroad. There are also changing exhibitions here, not least of which are works from the museum’s own collection, which primarily include works from the 19th century to the present day.
The museum was established in Copenhagen in 1884 and is now housed in the buildings that were previously used to store ice from Lake Tjörnin. The ice was used in the large fish production, and the building was built in 1916 by Guðjón Samúelsson.
Reykjavik’s modern City Hall was opened in 1992 on the prominent site in the northwest corner of Lake Tjörnin. In addition to the city council, the building also houses Reykjavík’s mayor’s office, a town hall café and some exhibition rooms.
In the town hall’s large public hall facing Tjörnin, you can see a large and impressive topographical model of Iceland. It gives an overview of Iceland and all the country’s volcanoes, glaciers, etc.
From Ráðhús Reykjavíkur, a promenade has been built to the east out into Tjörnin, which leads to a cozy area by the lake with many ducks and swans.
This museum is dedicated to Iceland’s first modern sculptor, Einar Jónsson, who in 1909 offered the city all his works if a museum would be built for them. In 1914, the city accepted the offer, and Einar Jónsson chose the top of the hill Skólavörðuhæð as the location for the museum, which opened in 1923 as the country’s first art museum in Iceland.
Skólavörðuhæð is Reykjavík’s highest hill, and both Einar Jónsson and other artists dreamed of a stronghold of art here.
The museum building itself was beautifully constructed, and the works of art take their place in the fine rooms. From Einar Jónsson’s apartment, which is also part of the museum, there is a fantastic view that underlines the museum’s good location.
With a prime location on Reykjavík’s waterfront, Harpa opened on 4 May 2011 as a concert hall and conference centre. It is the home of the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra/Sinfóníúorkeštá Íslands and the Icelandic Opera/Íslenska óperan, and Harpa is thus one of Iceland’s cultural beacons.
The striking building was designed by the Danish Henning Larsens Tegnestue in collaboration with the Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, who designed the beautiful glass facade. International acoustic consultants were also involved in the construction.
The architecture is dominated by the irregularly shaped glass sheets that cover the steel frame of the building in different colours. The design of the glass was thus inspired by the Icelandic basalt landscape.
Harpa was built as part of a larger complex in the Austurhöfn area, which was intended to play a significant role in the modernization of the city’s harbor areas. This development is clearly seen in Harpa’s surroundings, which include count some of the city’s tallest buildings, although the original plans for Austurhöfn were not carried out.
In front of Harpa you can see the sculpture The Musician, which Ólöf Pálsdóttir made in 1970. It is modeled after the Danish cellist, Erling Bløndal Bengtsson.
Among other things, Iceland is famous for its hot springs and the water that is heated by the country’s large geothermal energy production. The phenomenon can also be experienced in the many swimming pools in Reykjavik.
Vesturbæjarlaug is one of the options for a warm dip, and you can also choose Árbæjarlaug (Fylkisvegur), Breiðholtslaug (Austurberg 5), Grafarvogslaug (Dalhúsum), Kjalarneslaug (Kleberg), Laugardalslaug (Sundlaugarveg) and the indoor pool Sundhöllin (Barónsstígur).
The 25.7 meter high Perlan is one of Reykjavik’s exciting buildings. It was established in 1930 as a tank for a hot water reservoir in the city.
The tanks were changed in the 1980s, and in 1991 a dome and new premises were built on the tanks. Under the dome, there is a large exhibition area where, among other things, concerts are held and fine exhibitions on various themes from Iceland’s nature.
In the exhibition you can learn more about Iceland’s geology and fantastic nature with volcanoes, earthquakes, continental plates, glaciers, the country’s geothermally active underground and much more. There is also a birdcage, underwater experiences and Perlan’s fine planetarium.
In Perlan’s dome there is a revolving restaurant, and outside the dome there is a panoramic deck where there is a fine view of the city and over a large area around Reykjavik. From here you can also take a flight through the air on a zipline.
Today, the majority of Perlan’s tanks continue to function as reservoirs, and with a location on top of the 61 meter high Öskjuhlíð hill, the tanks’ 85° C hot water can be distributed to the entire city without the use of pumps. The water comes from many boreholes under Reykjavik, where the hot water is drawn from depths of 500-2,000 metres.
Iceland’s modern national museum depicts the country’s 1200-year cultural history through its rich collection. Some of Iceland’s finest finds are on display at Þjóðminjasafn Íslands, which was founded in 1863 from Icelandic effects that came from collections in Danish museums.
Until the interior of the current museum building in 1950, the museum’s effects were located in several places in the city. Today, the collection takes its starting point from the formation of Iceland and follows the country’s development chronologically to the present day. You can experience thousands of objects and countless photographs in the permanent exhibition, which provides an elegant introduction to Iceland.
The journey begins in the ship that brought the first inhabitants to the island and thereby their new home. It ends at the airport in Keflavik, which today forms Iceland’s gateway to the world.
The world-famous Bláa lónið is a lovely bath located in a geothermal area that supplies the Reykjanes peninsula with hot water and electricity.
The artificial lake, the lagoon, arose during the construction of the power plant, where warm saline water was found underground. It comes from cracks facing the sea, and the heating takes place in the warm underground.
You can swim in the lagoon all year round, and enormous amounts of fresh, warm water are constantly discharged into the lake. The water is very mineral-rich, and it is believed to have a healing effect on several skin diseases and rheumatism.
On a trip to Reykjavik you should treat yourself to a visit here or in one of the other hot baths. It is a special experience and wellness for both body and soul.
Seltún is a geothermal area that is part of the underground high-temperature area of Krýsuvik. The entire area lies like a volcanic fissure in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge that cuts through Iceland.
Seltún is a good place to take a closer look at the activities that are a natural result of the volcanic eruption. There are thus fumaroles, hot springs and mud holes, and the ground is also colored in shades of yellow, red and green.
The smell of sulfur is present in Seltún, where sulfur was mined in the years 1722-1727 and again in the 19th century.
Immediately north of Seltún lies the lake Kleifarvatn, which is the largest lake on the Reykjanes peninsula. Its depth goes down to 97 metres, and on the road from Seltún towards Reykjavik you pass many beautiful landscapes.
Miðlína is a bridge that stands at the point where the Eurasian and North American continental plates are believed to be sliding away from each other, as is the case across Iceland on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
The bridge is also called the Bridge between the Continents, and it goes over a 6 meter deep short crack, which is clear evidence of the forces of nature. If you walk from the site’s car park, you are in Europe, while a trip over the approximately 18-metre-long bridge leads to North America in geological terms.
Built in 2002, Miðlína is a popular excursion destination in the area south of the airport in Keflavík.
Þingvellir is one of Iceland’s national treasures, and at the same time the place is included in UNESCO’s list of world cultural heritage. Þingvellir was established in 1930 as Iceland’s first national park. It became that to protect the remains of the over 1000 year old political meeting place that Þingvellir is known as, but later the beautiful scenery was included.
Þingvellir is a historical place. In the decades following the Scandinavian colonization of Iceland in the 8th century, it became increasingly necessary for the island’s family clans to be able to meet on various topics that we would today call politics. A particular reason was that the descendants of Ingólfur Arnarson to the southwest had, in the opinion of many, become too powerful, and that some kind of parliament should be able to limit their power.
Grímur Geitskör was tasked with finding a suitable site for this parliament, and when the owner of the area Bláskógar was convicted of murder and the land condemned to public ownership, Bláskógar could be used. The name was later changed to Þingvellir, and the first Icelandic parliament, the Althing/Alþing, met here in the year 930. In the period 930-1271, the Alþing was the highest legislative and judicial political power, and speeches were made from the Lovbjerg/Lögberg hill.
After increasing internal disputes in Iceland, from 1271 the island came under the Norwegian crown and later the Danish crown. However, the Alþing met here every year until 1798, but not with the same powers as before. After the re-establishment of the Icelandic everything in 1874, it was laid in Reykjavik.
In the information center at Þingvellir you can get information about the history of the place and the geology of the area, which is very interesting. From here there is also a nice view of the landscape. You can see lake Þingvallavatn, which with its 84 km² is the country’s largest natural lake, as well as several volcanoes such as the characteristic 1,060 meter high cone volcano Skjáldbreidur.
In the national park, there are also faults caused by the displacement of the continental plates from each other. The largest of these faults is Almannagjá, which is almost a gorge. The landscape shifts little by little every year, and you can walk through Almannagjá to take a closer look at the result of the forces of nature, where the Eurasian and North American continental plates split.
After a short trip through the gorge, you come from the information center to the parliament site itself, which is marked with a flagpole. To the east from here is the fine little church, Þingvallakirkja, which was built in 1859. However, there is believed to have been a church on the site since around the year 1000.
In the Geysir area, the water less than 1 kilometer underground is 200° C hot. The area itself is about 3 km² in size and is immediately adjacent to the main road from Reykjavík and Þingvellir.
The name Geysir comes from the oldest known of the area’s geysers, believed to have erupted since the 14th century. The area itself was formed during the last ice age, during which the geysers have been erupting for 10,000 years.
The area has changed character over time when there have been earthquakes. Some geysers have changed, some have stopped and others have reawakened. The geysers vary in height. The highest have jumped up to 100 metres.
The Icelandic geysers are the only ones in Europe. Today, the geyser Strokkur erupts at intervals of up to 30 meters every few minutes. The process is caused by the water in the ground expanding by evaporation, and then it searches upwards with the violent force you can experience. Strokkur itself was formed by an earthquake in 1789.
During the island’s most recent major earthquake, in the year 2000, the old spring, Geysir, was brought back to life after an 85-year hiatus. However, it does not jump at fixed intervals.
In the southern part of the Geysir area is Thykkuhverir, which almost means mud holes. Here there is 70-80° C hot mud. In the area there is also an interesting information center where you can watch a multimedia show that shows the geology of the area and simulates geysers, earthquakes and other natural phenomena.
The impressive Gullfoss waterfall is one of Iceland’s largest falls and most famous sights. The fall picturesquely consists of two parts that lie in extension of each other, and together they are 32 meters in height. Gullfoss is part of the water-rich river Hvitá, which mainly drains the Langjökull glacier.
Gullfoss falls into a 2.5 km long and 32 meter deep gorge that was created during the Ice Age. The water masses in the fall usually hold 80-140 m³/second, and you can view the magnificent sight from several places around the fall.
Faxafen
hagkaup.is
Kringlan 4-12
kringlan.is
Hagasmári 1
smaralind.is
Laugavegur, Skólavödustígur, Bankastræti, Austurstræti
Árbæjarsafn
Kistuhyl 4
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The Blue Lagoon/Bláa lónið
Grindavikurvegur, Grindavík, 40 km SW
bluelagoon.is
Icelandic Institute of Natural History/Náttúrufræðistofnun Íslands
Urriðaholtsstræti 6-8, Gardabær
ni.is
Fjölskyldu-og húsdýragarðurinn
Engjavegur
husdyragardur.is
Laugardalslaug
Sundlaugarveg
sundlaug.is
Iceland were colonized by Norwegian and Celtic immigrants in the 800-900s. According to one of the old Icelandic sagas, Ingólfur Arnarson was the first settler on the island, and he had come here from Norway with his wife, Hallveig Frodedatter, their two children, slaves and others.
As the tradition dictated, Arnarson put finely carved high-seat supports in the water, and precisely where they drifted ashore he would build his farm. The farm was built on the peninsula where Reykjavik is today.
In the area there were then, as at present, a number of hot springs that rose from the ground and made such a great impression on the inhabitants that they named their town afterwards. Reykjavik means the smoking bay.
Outside of Reykjavik, at Thingvellir, the political Icelandic tradition started as early as 930 with the country’s first parliament.
Around the year 1000, the country declared itself Christian under pressure from the Norwegian king, and in 1056 the country’s first bishopric was established in Skalholt outside Reykjavik. In this way, essential institutions were established early in the history of the colony, and parliament is the oldest to continue to exist; today in modern edition in the capital itself.
1220-1264 is called the Sturlung period after the lineage that reigned while Iceland was free. One of the lungs was Snorri Sturluson, one of the authors of the world-famous Icelandic sagas.
By expanding the family’s position of power, the lords came to dominate large parts of the island, creating internal quarrels between them and local chiefs as well as other leaders.
In 1241 Snorri Sturluson was killed on his farm, and after a few decades of struggle the Norwegian king in 1262 placed Iceland under Norway.
The Gissurars Treaty was signed, making the union between Norway and Iceland a reality. With the agreement, Iceland was to pay taxes to the Norwegian king, and in return the people were guaranteed peace, code of law and regular transport between Iceland and Norway. Icelanders and Norwegians also achieved equal rights in both countries.
The Union was confirmed by the Gamli sáttmaat agreement in 1302, and for the following 642 years Iceland was in union with not least Denmark.
During this time the church had good conditions. The bishops of Hólar and Skálholt received great tithes, and they gradually acquired much land from local chiefs.
The 1300s foretold hard times for the Icelanders. A so-called small ice age broke through and resulted in shorter growing seasons for the already marginal agriculture on Iceland’s latitudes.
The important harvest of barley was not successful, and Iceland’s trade with continental Europe increased. As export goods, the island developed during this period dried cod, which was a popular eating in Europe and which continues to contribute to the Icelandic economy today.
The volcano Hekla also erupted several times during this period. A one-year outbreak of 1300-1301 killed 500 people, which at that time was a large part of the population, and outbreaks in 1341 and 1389 caused, among other things, great damage to the surrounding agriculture.
With the death of King Olav IV in 1380, the male Norwegian succession ceased, and the Norwegian monarchy and with it the state also came to an end.
In 1397 the Kalmar Union was entered into between Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and thus also Iceland. The monarch was first the Danish Queen Margrethe I and then the Danish kings. Thus, Denmark was the dominant force in the Union, which in various editions joined Iceland and Denmark together until 1944.
Shortly after the Union’s conclusion, the plague ravaged Iceland. During the years 1402-1404 the disease ravaged Reykjavik and Iceland, and a third of the population perished.
The economy was also bad for Iceland, which no longer had a large domestic market for fish exports in Norway, and with Denmark’s agricultural production and fishing, the Icelandic goods were no longer in demand, which reduced trade and shipping on the island.
The wealth and power of the Church stood for decline as the 1400-1500s progressed. The reformation was completed in Denmark, and King Christian III wanted the same in Iceland. The Catholic bishops, Jón Arason and Ögmundur Pálsson, opposed the king, and while Ögmundur was deported, Arason ended up being executed in 1550. With his death, Iceland was Protestant.
Iceland had previously had a lively trade with Europe, but this was stopped in 1602 when a trade monopoly was established on the Icelandic trade. The monopoly meant that Iceland was only allowed to trade with Denmark, and this was done through Danish merchants and trading stations around Iceland; among others also in Reykjavik. The monopoly was intended to strengthen Danish merchants vis-à-vis northern German merchants in the Hanseatic League, but for Iceland the scheme placed restrictions on economic opportunities.
At the beginning of the 18th century, 50,000 lived in Iceland, and Reykjavik was still one of many villages. In the middle of the century, however, a major development started in the well-settled settlement.
It was, for example, the local order enforcer and contractor Skúli Magnússon, which through the establishment of wool production and processing undermined the existing trade monopoly. When Magnússon built his business in 1752, Reykjavik’s first real street was built on it.
Reykjavik obtained commercial property rights in 1786, but the new status notwithstanding, Reykjavik remained a village in many ways; not least in size. The population was 167, of which some were Danes who worked here as merchants or officials.
After the city gained marketplace rights, various political and religious institutions were established in Reykjavik. Among other things, the construction of the Protestant cathedral started in 1796, and the bishop’s seat was moved there from Skálholt two years later.
The end of the 18th century had again been tough times for Iceland with the eruption of the volcano Lakis in 1783. 12.5 km³ of lava flowed out, and both 9,000 Icelanders and about 80% of the animal team were killed. In addition, about a quarter of the population died in the ensuing famine. In the 19th century, the climate moved toward the worse, and emigration to North America occurred in a larger style.
Along with depopulation and harsh living conditions, national consciousness grew in Iceland during this time. At the Peace in Kiel in 1814, Denmark lost Norway, while Iceland formally became part of the Danish Empire.
In 1843 the Icelandic everything was set up and in the following years there was a strengthening of the island’s movement towards its own rule. It happened under the leadership of Icelandic intellectuals; who was educated in Denmark. In the lead was Jón Sigurðsson. The gathering was held in Reykjavik, which had now established itself as Iceland’s capital.
In 1855, Iceland removed its continued international trade barriers, and in 1874 a proposal for a proper Icelandic constitution was drawn up in connection with the country’s self-government that year.
Reykjavik’s cultural life was given a huge boost through a number of initiatives for activities and buildings that could create the framework for the Icelandic art forms.
Throughout the beginning of the 20th century, there was considerable activity in Reykjavik with the relocation and establishment of major buildings and institutions. For example, the city’s university was founded in 1911, and around 12,000 residents now live in Reykjavik.
After World War I, Iceland became an autonomous part of the Danish Empire. The country was now in principle independent in personnel union with Denmark, which was in charge of foreign and defense policy. With the new status, Reykjavik’s political position had once again been strengthened.
In 1944, Iceland became detached from the Danish krone when it declared independence and introduced the republic. Sveinn Björnsson was elected as the country’s first president with a residence in Reykjavik, which had now become a capital, where there was a great need for a whole host of new institutions and for services that had previously been performed in Copenhagen.
After World War II, Reykjavik’s largest population development began. This was not least due to the English and later US occupation of the island and subsequent investments in, among other things, an air base, which led to improved economy and job opportunities in the Reykjavik area. This led many Icelanders from the countryside to the capital.
Today’s Icelandic capital is home to the majority of the country’s population, and in a few centuries it has grown from a small village to more than 200,000 residents in the metropolitan area. Large investments in infrastructure tie the city’s vast suburbs together effectively, and the center meets new and old after a strong growth in the economy in the years after the year 2000. Growth stopped before the end of the decade, but it is a clearly modern Icelandic capital that today can be experience.
Reykjavik, Iceland
Overview of Reykjavik
Reykjavik is Iceland’s and the world’s northernmost state capital. The city is beautifully located at the coast of the blue Atlantic Ocean and with the Icelandic mountain masses on the horizon to almost all sides. It is a good introduction to the impressive nature that awaits outside the city where every trip to volcanic Iceland is unforgettable.
A trip to Reykjavik is also a visit to the saga island with its old Nordic traditions, language and gastronomy, which is naturally characterized by the many fish from the seas around the island and the warm volcanic subsoil. It is a city like nowhere else in the world.
The majority of the Icelandic population lives in the Reykjavik metropolitan area, and here you find large cultural institutions, museums and other things that make a city break exciting. The area around Lake Tjörnin is a good place to start, the city’s fine town hall is beautifully located on the lake’s northern shore.
About the Whitehorse travel guide
Contents: Tours in the city + tours in the surrounding area
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Author: Stig Albeck
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Language: English
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The Althingi/Alþingi is Iceland’s parliament, and its form of government dates back to the settlement period, when the clans first met for an Althing in the year 930. In more recent times, the Althingi was given the legislative power for Icelandic affairs by the constitution of 1874.
After this, it was decided to build Alþingishúsið, which was designed by the Danish architect Ferdinand Meldahl. The building material is hewn stone from the volcanic rock diabase, and the building was completed in 1881.
In the years 1911-1940, the University of Reykjavik was housed on one of the floors, and until 1973 the country’s president had his office here. It was also here in the Alting that the Republic of Iceland was officially founded in 1944.
Over time, the need for administration in connection with Parliament has increased, and in these years a larger and modern extension of Alþingishúsið is being built.
At the Icelandic National Gallery, you can experience the place’s permanent collection of art from Iceland and abroad. There are also changing exhibitions here, not least of which are works from the museum’s own collection, which primarily include works from the 19th century to the present day.
The museum was established in Copenhagen in 1884 and is now housed in the buildings that were previously used to store ice from Lake Tjörnin. The ice was used in the large fish production, and the building was built in 1916 by Guðjón Samúelsson.
Reykjavik’s modern City Hall was opened in 1992 on the prominent site in the northwest corner of Lake Tjörnin. In addition to the city council, the building also houses Reykjavík’s mayor’s office, a town hall café and some exhibition rooms.
In the town hall’s large public hall facing Tjörnin, you can see a large and impressive topographical model of Iceland. It gives an overview of Iceland and all the country’s volcanoes, glaciers, etc.
From Ráðhús Reykjavíkur, a promenade has been built to the east out into Tjörnin, which leads to a cozy area by the lake with many ducks and swans.
This museum is dedicated to Iceland’s first modern sculptor, Einar Jónsson, who in 1909 offered the city all his works if a museum would be built for them. In 1914, the city accepted the offer, and Einar Jónsson chose the top of the hill Skólavörðuhæð as the location for the museum, which opened in 1923 as the country’s first art museum in Iceland.
Skólavörðuhæð is Reykjavík’s highest hill, and both Einar Jónsson and other artists dreamed of a stronghold of art here.
The museum building itself was beautifully constructed, and the works of art take their place in the fine rooms. From Einar Jónsson’s apartment, which is also part of the museum, there is a fantastic view that underlines the museum’s good location.
With a prime location on Reykjavík’s waterfront, Harpa opened on 4 May 2011 as a concert hall and conference centre. It is the home of the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra/Sinfóníúorkeštá Íslands and the Icelandic Opera/Íslenska óperan, and Harpa is thus one of Iceland’s cultural beacons.
The striking building was designed by the Danish Henning Larsens Tegnestue in collaboration with the Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, who designed the beautiful glass facade. International acoustic consultants were also involved in the construction.
The architecture is dominated by the irregularly shaped glass sheets that cover the steel frame of the building in different colours. The design of the glass was thus inspired by the Icelandic basalt landscape.
Harpa was built as part of a larger complex in the Austurhöfn area, which was intended to play a significant role in the modernization of the city’s harbor areas. This development is clearly seen in Harpa’s surroundings, which include count some of the city’s tallest buildings, although the original plans for Austurhöfn were not carried out.
In front of Harpa you can see the sculpture The Musician, which Ólöf Pálsdóttir made in 1970. It is modeled after the Danish cellist, Erling Bløndal Bengtsson.
Among other things, Iceland is famous for its hot springs and the water that is heated by the country’s large geothermal energy production. The phenomenon can also be experienced in the many swimming pools in Reykjavik.
Vesturbæjarlaug is one of the options for a warm dip, and you can also choose Árbæjarlaug (Fylkisvegur), Breiðholtslaug (Austurberg 5), Grafarvogslaug (Dalhúsum), Kjalarneslaug (Kleberg), Laugardalslaug (Sundlaugarveg) and the indoor pool Sundhöllin (Barónsstígur).
The 25.7 meter high Perlan is one of Reykjavik’s exciting buildings. It was established in 1930 as a tank for a hot water reservoir in the city.
The tanks were changed in the 1980s, and in 1991 a dome and new premises were built on the tanks. Under the dome, there is a large exhibition area where, among other things, concerts are held and fine exhibitions on various themes from Iceland’s nature.
In the exhibition you can learn more about Iceland’s geology and fantastic nature with volcanoes, earthquakes, continental plates, glaciers, the country’s geothermally active underground and much more. There is also a birdcage, underwater experiences and Perlan’s fine planetarium.
In Perlan’s dome there is a revolving restaurant, and outside the dome there is a panoramic deck where there is a fine view of the city and over a large area around Reykjavik. From here you can also take a flight through the air on a zipline.
Today, the majority of Perlan’s tanks continue to function as reservoirs, and with a location on top of the 61 meter high Öskjuhlíð hill, the tanks’ 85° C hot water can be distributed to the entire city without the use of pumps. The water comes from many boreholes under Reykjavik, where the hot water is drawn from depths of 500-2,000 metres.
Iceland’s modern national museum depicts the country’s 1200-year cultural history through its rich collection. Some of Iceland’s finest finds are on display at Þjóðminjasafn Íslands, which was founded in 1863 from Icelandic effects that came from collections in Danish museums.
Until the interior of the current museum building in 1950, the museum’s effects were located in several places in the city. Today, the collection takes its starting point from the formation of Iceland and follows the country’s development chronologically to the present day. You can experience thousands of objects and countless photographs in the permanent exhibition, which provides an elegant introduction to Iceland.
The journey begins in the ship that brought the first inhabitants to the island and thereby their new home. It ends at the airport in Keflavik, which today forms Iceland’s gateway to the world.
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