THE ROUGH GUIDE 2010 ON THE SETTLEMENT CENTRE
FAR THE BEST - PAGE 159
There are a couple of museums in town, but far the best is the modern well-designed Settlement Centre of Iceland down at the far end of the Borgarbraut.
The museum is in two parts, for each of which you can pay seperately and are giving An audio guide, complete with superb sound effects, which leads you around the exhibits and accompanying video displays. The first section uses interactiveve models (such as the swaying prow of a Viking longship which you can ride) and audio visual displays to give an idea of what Iceland´s first settlers would have found when they arrived to carve up the country between them during the Settlement period (about 870-930).
But for sheer gothic atmosphere you can´t beat the second exhibition in the basement that illustrates Egil´s Saga, with surreal and often nighmarish figurines, wood carvings and lighting portraying Egil´s violent live - look out for his werewolf grandfather lurking in the shadow, and the misshapen skull with Paget´s Disease towards the exit – it´s thought Egill may have suffered from this abnormal bone condition.
GOOD VALUE LUNCH SPECIALS - PAGE 159
For more upmarket dining, the Settlement Centre itself has a restaurant serving good –value lunch specials, as well as lasagne and fish of the day...