Seydisfjordur Town Walk

OVERVIEW

Walk through the heart of Seyðisfjörður, a town of just 700 people at the innermost point of the fjord of the same name. As you proceed past the town’s characteristic chalet-style wooden homes, you will learn how Seyðisfjörður was settled in the mid-1800s by herring fishermen who prospered from the fjord’s sheltered, easy-to-fish waters. Upon reaching the iconic Blue Church, you will be treated to a recital of Icelandic melodies. Another landmark in town is the Avalanche Memorial, an intriguing outdoor sculpture created with mangled white girders from a local fish factory that a 1996 avalanche heavily damaged. Although no one was injured, dozens of residents were killed in the 1885 avalanche that the memorial honors. For a town of so few people, Seyðisfjörður has a thriving art community. You will pass the former home of beloved folk artist Ásgeir Emilsson on the way to the Skaftfell Center for Visual Art, where you will see a collection of modern multi-media works.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a leisurely walk through Seyðisfjörður as the guide describes the landmarks.
• Attend a recital of Icelandic melodies at the architecturally distinct Blue Church.
• Visit a memorial that honors the residents that died in a 19th-century avalanche.
• View a modern collection of art at the esteemed Skaftfell Center for Visual Art.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.