Reykjavík is the European capital home to Alþingi, Iceland’s parliament, founded in 930.
Alþingi is commonly described as the world’s oldest surviving parliamentary institution. Icelandic settlers established it at Þingvellir in 930, where the national assembly met outdoors for centuries. The law speaker recited laws from the Lögberg, or Law Rock, and disputes and legislation were handled before the assembled community.
The parliament was suspended in 1800 under Danish rule and re-established in 1845. It moved to Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital, where Alþingishúsið, the parliament building, opened in 1881. The institution therefore has ancient origins at Þingvellir but its modern parliamentary seat is in Reykjavík.
A common mix-up is to identify Þingvellir as the capital: it is a historic national park and former assembly site, not a capital city. Reykjavík became the location of Iceland’s modern legislature.