In the eyes of Icelanders, Austurvöllur Square is the heart of the city centre, the centre of the capital. The square used to be the best hayfield of the Austurvöllur farm, which stood where Hafnarstræti is now. Austurvöllur is the oldest square in Reykjavík and has, from the beginning, been one of the most popular meeting points for city residents, both for joy, for protests and just pure relaxation. At the southern end of Austurvöllur are two of the most important buildings in the country, The Parliament House and the Cathedral. In the middle of the park stands a statue of the Icelandic freedom fighter, Jón Sigurðsson, created by the sculptor Einar Jónsson and erected in 1930. At the square’s northern end are restaurants and bars, where tourists and residents mingle over burgers and beer.
Reykjavík 21/07/2021 14:04 35mm
Photograph and text : Páll Stefánsson
