In the middle of the city center

In the middle of the city center

Hverfisgata, which runs north of and parallel to Laugavegur, Reykjavík’s main shopping street, is and always was the little poor brother. And yet, at the bottom and to the west are both the National Culture House and the National Theater. Then also at the street are Bjarnaborg and the Danish Embassy, along with the new elegant hotel, Canopy by Hilton, which stands diagonally opposite the embassy. Along the street there are small wrought iron houses from the end of the 19th century, and Bíó Paradís, where film lovers can see selected films from all over the world. Hverfisgata runs from Lækjartorg, where the Council of Ministers and the Prime Minister’s office are on the corner of Arnarhóll up towards Hlemmur, the main bus interchange in the capital. The street was given its official name in 1898, and is named after Skuggahverfi, which lies north of the street, right down to the sea.

Looking from Arnarhóll towards the start of Hverfisgata

 

The Danish embassy built in 1913 and has served as an embassy since 1919
First is the House of Bookmakers, built by Prime Minister Jón Magnússon in 1912, then the National Theater and then Safnahúsið
The display window of Fornbókaverslunin Bókin, at the corner of Hverfisgata and Klapparstígur
The colourful Hverfisgata, Bjarnaborg seen behind the parking garage at Vitatorg, built in 1901-1902
Photographs & text: Páll Stefánsson
Reykjavík 11/04/2023 : RX1R II : 2.0/35mm Z