Offering a wealth of information, the Settlement Center provides a wonderful insight into Iceland’s history. It also gives you the chance to put your visit into the context of the country’s past. The exhibition recreates the fascinating drama of the sagas and the birth of this island nation. They also bring to life one of Iceland’s most important cultural treasures, Egils Saga.

The Settlement and Egils Saga Exhibition

Five hundred and fifty years ahead of Columbus, in the days before the sextant, courageous Scandinavians dared to sail across the Atlantic. These adventurers discovered a large untouched island and claimed the land as their own. The Settlement Era of Iceland had begun. We know the names of three hundred and fifty of these individuals, and we know their stories, thanks to The Book of Icelanders and The Book of the Settlement

The Saga of Egill Skalla-Grimsson, profiles the hero who gives his name to Egils Saga as one of the most colorful of all the saga heroes. Egil was the son Skalla-Grimur Kveldulfsson, who was one of the very first Viking settlers, and who claimed the land around Borgarnes. Egils Saga thus provides a perfect vehicle for following one family clan as they settle in Iceland. Egill himself was a larger than life character. He was both a great sensitive poet and also a fierce warrior and Viking. The saga is a complex and vibrant intertwining of battles and love affairs, magic and witchcraft. The saga is complex but we have simplified it for you in this 30 minutes synopsis.

A multi-media experience

Multi-media and theatrical techniques are employed to help you experience the trepidation and excitement of setting off over the open ocean for lands unknown. Audio guides take you on a voyage of discovery and are available in 15 languages; Icelandic, English, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Finnish, German, French, Italian, Polish, Spanish, Russian, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese and Dutch. A complete circuit of one exhibition takes about 30 minutes.