Skalholt Cathedral

About

The cornerstone of Skalholt Cathedral was laid in 1956 to commemorate the 1000 year anniversary of the founding of the Skalholt diocese. Though the cathedral is still the seat of a bishop, it’s now a ‘suffragan diocese’, assisting the Bishop of Iceland. The simple white building is ornamented with 25 stained glass windows offering an abstract take on Christian symbolism, and an altarpiece depicting Christ and Iceland in a similarly abstract style. The pulpit, however, stands as a reminder to the diocese’s long history, dating back to the 17th century. For a small fee, you can also visit the church basement, where you’ll find the crypt of a priest, a small museum, and a secret passageway to the outside. On the church grounds, you’ll be able to enjoy Iceland’s natural beauty accented with a reconstructed grass-roofed church.