Austurvöllur
Public square in Reykjavík, Iceland / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Austurvöllur (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈœystʏrˌvœtlʏr̥]) is a public square in Reykjavík, Iceland. The square is a popular gathering place for the citizens of Reykjavík, and especially during good weather due to the prevalence of cafés on Vallarstræti and Pósthússtræti. It has also been a focal point of protests, as it is near the Parliament of Iceland.
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The square contains a large statue of Jón Sigurðsson, a leader of Iceland's independence movement.
Austurvöllur is surrounded by Vallarstræti, Pósthússtræti, Kirkjustræti and Thorvaldsensstræti. The last of these is named after Bertel Thorvaldsen, a statue of whom was, for a long time, present in the centre of Austurvöllur, now occupied by a statue of Jón Sigurðsson. Located around the perimeter of the square are: Alþingishúsið (the Parliament House), Dómkirkjan (the city's oldest church), the Hotel Borg, as well as numerous cafés, restaurants and bars.
In the early 18th century, Austurvöllur was much larger and stretched from Aðalstræti in the west towards the creek in the east, and from Aðalstræti in the north towards Tjörnin in the south.