Hallgrímskirkja is Reykjavík's iconic Lutheran church. At 73 metres high, Hallgrímskirkja is the largest church in the country and derives its name from Hall...

Hallgrímskirkja is Reykjavík's iconic Lutheran church. At 73 metres high, Hallgrímskirkja is the largest church in the country and derives its name from Hallgrímur Pétursson, author of the "Hymns of the Passion", the design of the church is said to be inspired by the basalt lava columns found in many areas along the coast of Iceland. Although Guðjón Samúelsson was commissioned to design the church in 1937, construction did not begin until 1945 and was not completed until 1986.Located at the top of Skólavörðurholt, the highest point in Reykjavík's city centre, the bell tower of Hallgrímskirkja offers visitors a breathtaking 360° view of Reykjavík and its surroundings. The church is a visual landmark in the city for locals and visitors. The centrepiece of the courtyard in front of Hallgrímskirkja is a large statue of Leif Eriksson, an Icelandic explorer who is believed to be the first European to set foot in North America, establishing a settlement in Vinland, in present-day L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland (Canada). The statue was gifted to Iceland by the United States in 1930 to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the Icelandic parliament.