Iceland review - 2015, Page 14

12 ICELAND REVIEW
Once reserved for the fishing industry, the Reykjavík wharf is fast developing into a vibrant area where industry, art,
culture, food and tourism come together. Grandi, the western part of the harbor, is home to four diverse museums.
MUSEUMS
BY EYGLÓ SVALA ARNARSDÓTTIR. PHOTOS BY PÁLL STEFÁNSSON.
SAGA MUSEUM
An old man being beheaded with an axe, a woman being burnt at the stake,
another holding a sword under her bare breast… these are some of the scenes
from the Icelandic sagas and history which are recreated at the Saga Museum.
The lifelike wax figurines carry specially-crafted weapons and the clothing,
accessories and other artifacts were made by hand using traditional methods.
Visitors can take a tour through Iceland’s past, from the settlement in the 9th
century, to the making of the medieval manuscripts, the bloody Age of the
Sturlungs in the Middle Ages, the conversion from paganism to Christianity in
the year 1000 and from Catholicism to Lutheranism five-and-a-half centuries
later. sagamuseum.is
REYKJAVÍK MARITIME MUSEUM
Upon entering the museum, visitors are confronted with a long list of the
names of people known to have died at sea, accompanied by newspaper arti-
cles about sea accidents. This is where the harsh reality of seafaring sinks in.
Honoring the history of the Grandi area and one of Iceland’s most important
industries, Reykjavík Maritime Museum is located in a building which once
facilitated fish processing and a freezing plant. With a view of the harbor, vis-
itors can take in the atmosphere while learning about the history of Icelandic
seafaring and fisheries, complete with personal stories of people who grew up
with their fathers working as fishermen out at sea for many months of the year.
Outside docked by a special pier, visitors can tour Coast Guard cruiser Óðinn.
maritimemuseum.is
GRAND TIMES