Iceland review - 2013, Page 92

90 ICELAND REVIEW
sPECIAL PROmOTION
an ode to icelandic heritage and architecture
Salka Publishing presents Iceland’s Cultural Heritage/Íslenskur menningararfur by Björn
G. Björnsson, a unique series of books on Iceland’s cultural- and architectural heri-
tage, as well as historical sites. Available in English and Icelandic, the books are both
elegant and handy, containing beautiful photographs, maps showing the location of
each building and useful information.
The series includes: Writer’s Homes, featuring the homes of Iceland’s literary gi-
ants, now museums that commemorate them, Turf Churches and Large Turf Houses
on Iceland’s turf-building tradition—the country’s few remaining turf buildings are
under consideration for the UNESCO World Heritage List—and 18th Century Stone
Buildings. The first stone buildings in Iceland were constructed by the Danish gov-
ernment in 1753-77 and designed by Denmark’s leading court architect, combining
simplicity with elegance. salka.is
adventure extraordinaire
Just as one should never have hot chocolate without cream, one should never visit
Iceland without a glacier tour. Mountaineers of Iceland offer tours by snowmobile
and super jeep on Langjökull, the country’s second-largest glacier. Visitors can
choose between different glacier tours or combine them with other destinations.
The popular Pearl Tour includes the Golden Circle—Þingvellir National Park, the
erupting hot spring Geysir and Gullfoss waterfall—topped off with a cruise on the
creamy-white Langjökull. The Mountaineers’ base camp at the foot of the glacier,
including a storage for coveralls, is heated and well-equipped. Guides make sure
travelers are warmly dressed and wearing the necessary safety gear before they head
out onto the glacier.
Mountaineers operate open day tours, half-day tours and evening tours as well as
private tailor-made tours for smaller and larger groups, for one, two or more days.
Other destinations include highland reserve Landmannalaugar and volcano Hekla,
forested highland paradise Þórsmörk with a view of Eyjafjallajökull glacier-volcano
and a trip around the volcanic wonderland of Reykjanes peninsula. Every trip with
Mountaineers of Iceland is an adventure worth embarking on. mountaineers.is
artistic Treasures and herculean Tasks
If you’re an art connoisseur or simply interested in learning more about Icelandic
culture, drop by the National Gallery of Iceland (NGI). The white arched building,
designed by renowned Icelandic architect Guðjón Samúelsson, cannot be missed.
Exhibitions this summer include Subjective Maps/Disappearances by almost 40 artists
from 15 small European nations, Treasures with 19th and early 20th century Icelandic
paintings and drawings and Memento Mori by Sara Riel, exploring the relationship
between the natural museum and art. In the autumn, the gallery will display the
conceptual and postmodern works of Dutch artist Kees Visser, the daring and
erotic art of Kristín Gunnlaugsdóttir and Passage 2011, which features artists Thomas
Hubner and Wolfgang Aichner pulling a red boat over the almost 3,000-meter-high
Nevassattel pass in the Alps. listasafn.is