The most famous unknown place in Iceland - Land og saga

WestfjordsWhere East is WestFinna Hotel is Set in the Sorcery and Witchcraft AreaHólmavík is the home of theMuseum of Icelandic Sorceryand Witchcraft, located in a region theIcelanders have always maintained to bedifferent – as in superhuman energy andpsychic power different. Consequently,Hólmavík’s Harbour HouseSteinhúsið - modern accommodation in a house from another eraTwo doors splashed with brightred paint announce the recentrestoration of a home built in 1911,it came as no surprise to the islanderswhen a museum and a research centreinto witchcraft and sorcery wasestablished in this quiet little fishingvillage on the east coast of the WestFjords. It’s where east is west.reliving its former glory days inHólmavík, the large town in the easternpart of the West Fjords. Steinhusiðis an outpost of comfort in what canbe a desolate area, offering modernaccommodation in the midst of atraditional fishing village. Its locationnear the harbour and across the streetfrom Hólmavík’s attractions, such asthe Witchcraft and Sorcery Museum,Cafe Riis, and artist’s workshop, makeSteinhusið an ideal place to rest beforeembarking further into the Westfjords.The main house has five bedrooms onthe second floor with two large livingIt called for all kindsof changes for the fishing community,both hotels and restaurants and todaythere is a variety of accommodation inHólmavík. Finna Hótel would be anexcellent choice. It is located on thehill slopes of the village and thus hasquite a view over the village and theHúnaf lói bay.Finna Hotel is altogether three floors,with a reception and breakfast roomon the ground floor. Newly renovated,along the veranda outside, it offers youa cosy time-out, whether you choose tosit indoors or outdoors.The hotel has twelve airy andbeautifully furnished rooms, either withor without an en suite bathroom. It alsooffers sleeping-bag accommodation.The rooms without en suite bathroomsall have sinks and access to communalbathrooms.Hótel Finna–SSBorgabraut 4 • 510 Hólmavík+354 451 3136finnahotel@finnahotel.iswww.finnahotel.isrooms and a separate fully-equippedkitchen on the bottom. An adjoiningapartment with a separate entrancefeatures a large bedroom, kitchen, andsmall living room. Tongue and groovepainted wood walls meld with modernfurnishings to invoke the past withoutforsaking contemporary comforts.Steinhúsið–KBOf Sorcerers and WitchesThe Museum Dedicated to an Extraordinary ProfessionThe Museum of Icelandic Sorcery andWitchcraft in Hólmavík is an excellentplace to get acquainted with the Icelandicsoul. Superstitions and folklores are quiterevealing—and also great fun. Foundedin the year 2000, the museum exhibitsartefacts related to sorcery and is home tothe only necropants in the world.By the beginning of the 17 th century, theReformation Period was past in Iceland.What commenced was a century which,until recently, has drawn little attention fromhistorians. For decades, prosecutions forwitchcraft and sorcery dominated the courtsand it was generally believed that the Devilhimself roamed the earth, taking an activepart in the lives of humans. During thepersecutions and burnings for witchcraft, theregion of Strandir was regarded as the homeof the cunning. As a result the region holds aunique heritage of superstition, folklore andthe history of the 17 th century.There are number of sorcery recipes atthe museum, the potion for making oneselfinvisible, for example, where the preparationof the ink is the most difficult task. “Collectthree drops of blood from the index fi ngerof your left hand, three from the ring fi ngerof your right hand, two from your rightnipple, and one from your left nipple. Mixthe blood with six drops of blood from theheart of a living raven and melt it all withthe raven’s brain and pieces of a humanstomach. Carve the sign on the lignite withmagnetic steel which has been hardenedthree times in human blood.” The museumeven has an invisible boy on display.The History and Annals of the 17 thcentury, persons involved in witchcraftand the folklore surrounding it, IcelandicGrimoires, Magical Staves, Runes,Magical Flora, Magical Stones; they areall part of this splendid museum.There is also a further part to themuseum: The Sorcerer’s Cottage in Bjarnafjörður, where one can easily understandhow the sorcerers survived—why theirsolitude—and yes, they were real.A guide through the museum is availablein six languages: English, Spanish, German,Dutch, French and Italian and shortly it willalso be available in Hebrew and Russian.There is a restaurant/café specialising inthe fresh local mussels at the museum. Surelythe sorcerers have applied their influence onthe ocean and seashore—as those will be themost delicious mussels you’ll ever taste.Both museum and restaurant areopen all year round and in addition, themuseum also offers day tours aroundthe most bewitched area and a meetingwith the trolls that tried to separate theWestfj ords from the mainland.Strandagaldur–SSHöfðagata 1 • 510 Hólmavík+354 856 1911steinhusid@steinhusid.iswww.steinhusid.isHöfðagata 8-10 • 510 Hólmavík+354 897 6525galdrasyning@holmavik.iswww.galdrasyning.is190 191