The Ins and Outs of Ísafjörður: A Guide to its Art and Architecture

For centuries, Ísafjörður – meaning ‘the fjord of ice’ – has been shaped by its fishing and seafaring past. To this day, the capital of Iceland’s sparsely populated Westfjords region shows how the sea has helped to create livelihoods and high standards of living, in more ways than one. This walking tour around my beautiful hometown of Ísafjörður starts near the town’s oldest houses in an area called Neðstikaupstaður, and ends at the central town square. Along the way, you’ll see outdoor artworks, including the big bronze Seaman’s Monument and the popular floating zebra crossing, 3D Crosswalk, and walk past a couple of garages where local artists exhibit their work. I’ll show you historical sites like our picturesque old hospital, Sjúkrahúsið, and point out where the yearly downtown skiing competition is held. In Jónsgarður park, you’ll get a photo opportunity with the famous whale jaw, Whalebone Arch. Along the way, I’ll answer questions like: • Where is Iceland’s only unicorn? (Hint: it doesn’t belong to the horse family – it’s a highly successful biotech company called Kerecis) • In what ways has cod shaped our history? • How was the church Ísafjarðarkirkja named, and what’s its link to the sun and pancakes? • What’s the connection between our president, the swimming pool in Austurvöllur garden and an infamous volcano? • Why, after having spent all winter clearing the streets of snow, do we dump snow back into the streets right before Easter? • How have avalanches influenced our towns in recent decades? Whether you are here on a short cruise ship stop, traveling around Iceland, or moving to town to study, by the end of this tour, you’ll have a really good overview of this unusual town. Although Ísafjörður is certainly a small town, I’ll also put things into Icelandic context during our walk, so you’ll see the bigger picture. Allow at least an hour for the walk, and extra time for stopping or making detours that I recommend along the way.

Price: £9.99 from VoiceMap