According to Snorre Sturlason the battle of Hafrsfjord took place in the year AD 872, probably outside Ytraberget. Harald Fairhair, the first king of Norway, is celebrated for having united Norway at this notable battle.
The stone crosses at Tjora date from about the year 1150. In early Christian times, these stone crosses were used as gathering points for religious ceremonies before churches were built. Sola Church Ruins is built on the ruins of a Romanesque stone church dating from about the year 1120. The stone church probably replaced an older wooden church in the area. This wooden church was possibly the one that Erling Skjalgsson had built when he converted to Christianity at the end of the 10th century. A fascinating story lies behind this unique church. The artist Johan Bennetter (1822�1904) used the church as a studio and lived there with his family. During World War II, most of the church was demolished. It was later reconstructed, and the restoration was finished in 1995. In the Sola Church Ruins area, there is a monument of Erling Skjalgsson (AD 975-1028), one of Sola's most famous men. This notable Viking leader has been given the honour of having introduced Christianity to Sola.
The Aviation History Museum gives a unique insight into Norwegian aviation history from World War II until the present day, with exhibitions displaying more than 30 historical aircraft. Stavanger Airport, Sola is Norway's oldest airport, and it was founded in 1937. At Sola airport, the first opposed landing by paratroopers took place as German Fallschirmj�gers from 1st battalion of the 1st Regiment, 7th Flieger Division were dropped on the airfield. Sola Air Station became an important airfield for the Germans during WWII
