Icelandic Saga & Heritage Association was founded in 2006, creating a forum for collaboration for those involved in saga and heritage tourism in Iceland, especially regarding publicity, quality and professional standards. The overarching goal of the association is to increase awareness of the historical and cultural background of Iceland. Through cooperation with over a 100 members around Iceland, the association is developing educating and adventurous trails following the Sagas, historical sites, museums and centres.
Dating back to the Settlement times, Iceland´s history with its literary and cultural heritage provide great insights into the societal developments in Northern Europe over the centuries. Around Iceland, many historical sites along with museums and heritage centres connected to Sagas and the later history of Iceland can be found, providing travellers with great opportunities to connect to the local culture.
The endearingly bloodthirsty Saga Museum is where Icelandic history is brought to life by eerie silicon models and a multi-language soundtrack featuring the thud of axes and hair-raising screams. Don’t be surprised if you see some of the characters wandering around town, as moulds were taken from Reykjavík residents (the owner's daughters are the Irish princess and the little slave gnawing a fish).
There's also a room for posing in Viking dress and a documentary about the making of the museum (look for Icelandic Idol–winner Kalli Bjarni in the audience).
The Saga Museum intimately recreates key moments in Icelandic history, moments that have determined the fate of our people and which give a compelling view into how Icelanders have lived for more than a millennium. Visitors are guided through the museum´s many attractions as well as through a chronological history of the country with audio guidance in 5 different languages. In this vibrant museum, visitors can learn about Icelandic history in a way that is both educational and fun. Lifelike replicas of historical Icelandic figures have been created, based on descriptions found in the Viking sagas and chronicles.
