Located on the small Elliðaey lies a volcanic islet belonging to the 18 islands that make up the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago off the southern coast of Iceland. It is a portion of land of just 45 hectares completely uninhabited and entirely covered by green turf where there is a single and solitary building that holds true to the nickname of “the loneliest house in the world“. An unusual and mysterious building which, as soon as it was photographed and circulated on the internet, immediately aroused the interest and curiosity of many people who quickly spread bizarre theories about its owner and its construction.

Although it was thought to be the home of a famous Icelandic singer, the refuge of a wealthy entrepreneur awaiting an impending apocalypse and the retreat place of a religious hermit, in reality the house is nothing more than a cottage, built in 1930 by the Ellidaey Hunting Association as a base for hunting puffins. The island is a protected area, listed as a natural nesting reserve for these seabirds and since then it has mainly been used by members as a research laboratory. However, it is good to know that in Iceland, although these birds are an endangered species, it is not illegal to hunt them.

The house is still kept in perfect condition, but has no running water and electricity. Its interior is in any case complete with furnishings and also has a sauna, all powered by an articulated rainwater collection system. The scenic beauty of this remote and isolated spot soon turned into a popular tourist destination. The small island of Elliðaey, or more simply Ellirey, can be reached safely through one of the various day trips offered by the tourist agencies of the archipelago.

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