Skansinn is a fort built in 1586 to protect the Danish royal store on Heimaey island. However, it didn’t prevent the so-called Turkish raid in 1627, when pirates attacked the islands, capturing 242 people and selling them as slaves in Algeria. Decades later, some of them miraculously returned.

At Skansinn there is also a stave church, a modern replica of the first church built in Westman Islands around 1000 AD. The church was built in the year 2000 to mark the millennium of Christianity in Iceland and is a gift from the Norwegian government.  Landlyst, one of the oldest houses in Westman Islands (from 1848), is located at Skansinn and is now a medical museum.

Ten ideas for recreation in Westman Islands and nearby in South Iceland (mainland):

1. Hike the hills and mountains of Heimaey with a splendid view of the mainland and smaller islands, including Heimaklettur, Helgafell and Eldfell, created in the eruption in 1973 (the ground is still warm in places!).
2. Go on a sailing tour from Heimaey and see the famous “elephant rock” , a striking rock formation that looks like an elephant with its trunk in the sea, puffins and other sea birds .
3. Visit Eldheimar, a volcano museum of remembrance , that traces the story of the 1973 eruption in Westman Islands with a powerful and moving interactive exhibition.
4. „Sprangan“ (the swing rope) is the ,,national” sport of Westman Islands. It´s where people trained to get stronger before going out to the smaller islands. Try it out!
5. The islands are perfect for kayaking, cycling, golf, swimming from cliffs… you name it!
6. For food lovers, rest assured that your taste buds will be satisfied after your visit to Westman Islands. The islands have excellent restaurants – and a local brewery.
7. Back on the mainland, “collect” the waterfalls in South Iceland, including Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, Gljúfrabúi, Hjálparfoss, Háifoss og Gullfoss.
8. Join a guided glacier hiking tour on Sólheimajökull and a snowmobile tour on Mýrdalsjökull glacier.
9. Visit the famous Black Beach (Reynisfjara), it´s stunning panoramas and beautiful basalt stacks. But take care, the Atlantic waves can be very dangerous!
10. Discover all the geological gems in the realm of Katla Geopark and visit the Katla exhibition in Vík.

For more information and travel tips, go to www.visitvestmannaeyjar.is and www.south.is