Renowned residencies in Iceland

Archaeology has revealed much about how the poet, chieftain and historian, Snorri Sturluson, lived at his Reykholt home during medieval times. His personal geothermal pool, Snorralaug, was among the first sites in the area to be discovered and has now been reconstructed to resemble how The Book of Settlements first described it. While much of the site is covered with turf, including the staircase where Snorri was murdered, tours of the museum provide greater insight into this celebrated statesman’s life.

Höfði House sits along the often busy Sæbraut Road, yet most visitors passing by would give little thought to its historical value. On 11-12 October 1986, the house hosted the Reykjavík Summit between US President Ronald Reagan and General Secretary of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev. Though these talks failed to bring an end to the Cold War, historians have since claimed the progress made here was instrumental in bringing about peace between the superpowers. Other notable attractions nearby include Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre and the Sun Voyager sculpture.

The Norwegian House in Stykkishólmur is noteworthy as a building thanks to its jet-black paint and prominence by the harbour front. Constructed with wood sourced from Norway, the building was finished in 1832, making it the oldest two-storey home in Iceland. Today it is a local museum, as well as a great stop to buy souvenirs and sweet products from their inhouse store.

Halldór Laxness is Iceland’s only Nobel Laureate, receiving the prize in literature in 1955. His home in Mosfellsbær is now a museum dedicated to his life and remains largely unchanged from when he lived there. A multimedia presentation in the museum lobby details Laxness’ writing in context to upheavals in Icelandic culture at the time; the country transformed from an island of agriculture and fishing to one of the planet’s most prosperous nations. Look out for the white building with the 1968 Jaguar parked outside on the way out from Reykjavík towards Þingvellir National Park.