At the top of Skólavörðuholt you can find Hallgrímskirkja, one of Reykjavík’s main landmarks. It was the architect Guðjón Samúelsson (1887-1950), the state’s building master, who was given the big project in 1937 to design a main church for the capital. Hallgrímskirkja originally took 41 years to build, or from the time construction began in 1945, until the church was finally ready in 1986. Today, thousands of tourists visit the church every day. Hallgrímskirkja is the second tallest building in Iceland, and has a spectacular view for visitors from the top of it’s tower over the capital area. The church is named after Hallgrímur Pétursson (1614-1674), the most efficient hymn-poet of the nation. Icelandic Times went up to the tower, and into the church it self after looking at it from all sides on the outside. The church is probably the attraction that most tourists walk up to, photograph and visit, because the building is so unique, as it stands at the top of Skólavörðuholt and towers over the city center, and can be seen from all over the city as well as from air and far out on sea.
Photographs & text: Páll Stefánsson
Reykjavík 27/08/2023 : A7R IV, A7C : FE 1.2/50mm GM, FE 1.8/20mm G
