Dómkirkjan

The original neoclassical stone church was built from 1787 to 1796 to plans by Danish court architect Andreas Kirkerup. It was enlarged and substantially changed in 1847-1848 by Laurits Albert Winstrup, giving the small cathedral much of its present form. A further restoration took place in 1999-2000.

Its importance comes from use as much as age. Dómkirkjan is the church of the Bishop of Iceland and an active parish church. It also has a formal link with Alþingi: members of parliament attend a service here when parliament opens, and the cathedral is used during the inauguration of Iceland's president.

The nave is intimate in scale, reflecting the cathedral's parish role.

G. T. Wegener painted the altarpiece in 1847; it shows Christ rising from the tomb. The baptismal font is Italian marble by Danish-Icelandic sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen. Above the nave, the present organ was made by Karl Schuke of Berlin in 1985. Two church bells survive from the older Víkurkirkja, the church that preceded Dómkirkjan.

The building feels very different from Hallgrímskirkja. Dómkirkjan is lower, older and closely tied to the square and parliament; Hallgrímskirkja is the later skyline landmark. They tell different parts of Reykjavík's church history.

Enter quietly when the church is open, keep voices low and avoid photographing people at prayer or during a service. The official site publishes current church activity and access information. If the doors are closed, the exterior still belongs naturally with Austurvöllur, Alþingi and Reykjavík City Hall in the old center.

This is usually a 15-30 minute stop, not a half-day attraction. Its value is the close relationship between cathedral, parliament and city square, all visible within a few steps.