Sheer cliffs and waterfalls carve Streymoy, the largest of the 18 Faroe Islands and home of Tórshavn, the capital and largest town of the archipelago. The old town of Tinganes was the home of the Faroese parliament for over a thousand years; the prime minister’s office is still located here. Stroll along narrow alleyways lined with black-tarred houses with grass roofs, some dating to the 14th century, and look for mysterious rock carvings believed to relate to ancient council meetings. But most of the pleasures involve the natural landscape. From nearby Vestmanna, a boat ride through narrow channels and grottoes reveals the desolate beauty of the islands. These cliffs are home to many bird species, including skuas, kittiwakes, fulmars and the charming puffins that breed every summer in the towering bluffs. While in Tórshavn, be sure to listen for some Faroese, considered the purest of all Norse and Scandinavian languages.
