Iceland, Nature & Culture

By Herbert Silverman

As the northernmost capital of Europe "Reykjavik is simultaneously affected by the forces of nature and forces of culture", says a city spokesman.

History and Culture in Reykjavik
The Reykjavik Art Museum is a stunning cultural center located in a stark but massive 1930's building which formerly housed the port offices. The permanent exhibits include works by such great Icelandic artists as Jon Stefansson and Olof Nordal.

A companion museum is Culture House located in the former National Library. For an introduction to Icelandic history, the museum has extensive exhibits recalling the days of seafaring Icelandic explorers as well as concentrating on the discovery of Greenland -- and North America.

Some other highlights: for a taste of history, the splendid Arni Magnusson Institute, on the University of Iceland campus, displays manuscripts from early in the last Millenium, which have preserved the Sagas or folk tales of the early Icelanders. These works fall into two main groups: those about the pagan gods and those about the heroes of Germanic legend.

Old Houses Near Skaftafell

Dining in Reykjavik
Considered on of the country's finest dining experiences is Perlan (the pearl) owned by Gisli Thoroddsen with an award-winning kitchen under the aegis of noted head chef Sturla Birigsson. The revolving rooftop restaurant is housed in a magnificent domed structure.

Just below the Perlan is a cafe with specialties such as open-faced sandwiches and an unlimited choice of ice creams in glasses, cups and cones.

Reykjavik's Attractions
In a country brimming with love of the outdoors, geothermal steam heats homes and outdoor swimming pools. This natural element is a pollution-free energy source that leaves the air outstandingly fresh, clean and clear. A salmon-fishing river runs through the city. Horseback riding vies with golf and fishing for pastoral pastimes.

In the capital, new attractions include the outdoor museum at Arbaer which portrays the history of the country from Viking times to the current century, starting with the first farmstead. In this recreated village, visitors can even wander through 19th-century houses.

A unique operation features riding tours aboard Icelandic horses. Even novitiates of the sport are certain to enjoy traveling through the countryside on Viking horses. A three hour tour takes "adventurers" into the lava fields surrounding the Helgafell volcano or past the shores of Lake Hvaleyravatn.

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