Stafkirkjan

Stafkirkjan (Viking Stave Church): What a cool little history lesson stopping by the Viking Stave Church near the Vestmannaeyjar harbor on Haimaey Island. A gift from Norway celebrating 1,000 years of Christianity in Iceland, this church is a replica of the Holtdalen stave church built in 1170, now residing at a museum in Norway. The original settlers brought wood with them to establish Christianity in Iceland, making their plea to the world's first parliament (Althing) and landing first in the Westman Islands. Stunning views of the sheer cliffs skirt the harbor, lava flow from the 1973 Eldfell eruption blankets the landscape, and you'll leave feeling like you stepped back in time a bit. SKOL!

Also call called the Heimaey stave church is a beautiful black wooden church that was gifted to Iceland by Norway in 2000 and is located by the harbor. It is different from other churches in Iceland. It is opened to visitors, you are able to walk inside but I have heard it is not always opened. Free parking and bathrooms.

It was closed when i was there, so I couldn’t really see whats inside. It’s next to the port, so smells kinda fishy, the church is small, apparently it’s a miniature of the real church.

Cool little church, really unique and worth a quick stop.

Nice little black church, with a view over the fjord

Just a neat experience. The church is amazing and the interior rivals the exterior. There is a hall you can walk all around the interior of the church.

Beautifully decorated and maintained church from the moment we entered and sat on the chairs there was an unexplainable peace. It has been kept up with and it wa surrea to know it was a gift from the king of Norway to Iceland to celebrate Christianity in the country! Definitely a place to visit after visiting the medical museum next-door.

Very pretty church with a neat history. Take a few minutes to go peak inside and get a few pics!