Uniquely designed Icelandic church is a historical record of the Nordic country

A small island in the far north of Europe has gained the sympathy of many people in recent years. A bit for the series "Vikings", for its traditions and also because of its football team, one of the sensations of the last World Cup of the sport, held in Russia this July. For these and other reasons, Iceland is a country that is increasingly drawing attention.

In many sporting competitions, Skol's euphoric and coordinated celebrations have secured the support and admiration of many people. What perhaps few people know, however, is the size of the country. With a land area of ​​103, 000 square meters, Iceland is larger than just 9 Brazilian states. The population is estimated at around 330, 000 people, less than 79 cities of our nation. By now we can get a sense of how small the country is.

On the other hand, the culture is quite rich. The region was discovered in 874 and has undergone some changes since then. It was a free state, then it belonged to the Swedish-Danish kingdom and returned to freedom centuries later. Over time and with modernization, some historical aspects have been lost, but several features remain very strong, such as the link with Viking history itself.

As Iceland is a cold and humid country, homebuilding needs to be adapted to ensure that its residents do not suffer in the harsh winters. In the beginning, shelters were built from trees with available vegetation cover. Subsequently, adaptations had to be made, and a new model appeared as early as the eighteenth century. With a wooden base, thicker walls were erected with rocks, so as not to allow low temperatures to enter the homes, and an organic and functional grass cover.

In the small village of Hof, a small church still exists, passing from generation to generation and surviving contemporary changes. The chapel dedicated to St. Clement is called Hofskirkja, and its construction dates from 1884; Those responsible for the work were Páll Pálsson and Þorsteinn Gissurarson. It is one of six remaining Icelandic churches; all are considered historical monuments, so they have government-guaranteed preservation.

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