Reykjavík Church / Hallgrímskirkja

 Our destination on the morning of Day 2 was Hallgrímskirkja. Although there are other attractions in Reykjavík, we only had half a day to spend in the city if we were to complete a 7-night, 8-day Iceland Ring Road trip. So, we chose this one place for our city itinerary. I will reiterate later, but a 7-night, 8-day Ring Road trip feels a bit rushed. It seems better to plan at least 10 days to fully enjoy the Ring Road trip.

Skólavörðustígur Rainbow Street and Hallgrímskirkja from Googlemap

Skólavörðustígur Rainbow Street

 At the beginning of Skólavörðustígur Rainbow Street, rainbow colors are painted on the ground. If you want to take a picture of the ground, you should take it from the entrance opposite the church. Around the street, you can see colorful buildings and houses that, while simple in shape without the ornate decorations typical of Nordic architecture, still shine with vibrant colors. They particularly resemble Norwegian houses. As you follow the street, you can see the pointed church spire in the distance on a hill.

The history of this Lutheran church is not as old as one might think. Designed by Guðjón Samúelsson in 1937, construction began in 1945, and it was completed in 1986, making it about 40 years old.

The centrally soaring church was inspired by the basalt column formations commonly seen in the country's waterfalls. Built with grey concrete, it possesses a sculptural beauty modeled after the basalt columns, yet it appears simple and restrained rather than ornate.

Hallgrímskirkja front

Right in front of the church stands The statue of Leif Erikson. This statue commemorates Leif Erikson, a Norwegian Viking explorer. He is known to have discovered North America 500 years before Columbus, in the 10th century. Interestingly, this statue was gifted by the United States in 1930 to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the Alþingi (Icelandic Parliament). Thus, it is a statue that also reveals the historical significance of Leif Erikson.

Church interior altar

Upon entering the church, a scene similar to the outside unfolds. The high ceilings, stained glass, and arches follow Gothic styles, but all sculptural elements are devoid of carvings, colors, or excessive decorations. Thus, it feels more like a humble space for contemplation than an overwhelmingly grand one. It was also interesting to see the INRI symbol, as it is a Lutheran church.

Hallgrímskirkja Pulpit

The website indicated that pipe organ performances were held on Thursdays, but a pipe organ was being played even though it wasn't Thursday.

The organ pipes of Hallgrímskirkja

On the way out of the church, there is, of course, a souvenir shop. The city magnets sold here cannot be found anywhere else. One might think the price is expensive, but it's the same price as what's sold in other souvenir shops. So, buying a magnet here seems like a good idea.

We did not go up the tower, for which one has to pay. Pictures taken from the rooftop are already available on the website. It wasn't a view worth paying to see, and it was a view that could be seen from the rooftops of surrounding buildings anyway.

Pipe organ performance in the church