The beaches of Florianópolis attract tourists all year round to the capital of Santa Catarina, but it is undeniable that one of the city’s greatest charms is made of steel. More precisely, of 5,000 tons of steel.
The Hercílio Luz Bridge is a suspension bridge that enchants travelers and yields beautiful records of Florianópolis. It is the longest suspension bridge in Brazil, with 821 meters. Its name is a tribute to the former governor of Santa Catarina, Hercílio Luz, who lived between 1860 and 1924. The bridge was opened in 1926, but was closed for 38 years, and it was reopened in 2019.
In 1992, the bridge was declared a historical, artistic, and architectural heritage site of Florianópolis. In the same area as the Hercílio Luz bridge is the Parque da Luz, which has a leisure area, a fruit tree nursery, and a soccer field.
On Tripadvisor, a website that gathers reviews and information about tourist attractions, the bridge has already received more than 2 thousand comments from tourists and is number 53 on a list of 195 interesting points in Florianópolis.
Among other comments, the tourists who leave their testimonials say that the Hercílio Luz is the “Brazilian Brooklyn Bridge”, an “exceptional view” and an “indispensable walk”.
How to photograph the Hercílio Luz Bridge
The tourist spot is a backdrop for beautiful shots, whether from inside the car, from above the bridge itself, or from other points in the city. During sunset, it is possible to capture a great view of the place, and at night the lights come on.
Among the points in Florianópolis that allow good shots of the bridge are:
- the Praça Hercílio Luz, considered the insular headland of the bridge;
- Forte Santana, which is under the bridge and has a parking lot;
- The rowing clubs’ platform, which allows pictures to be taken of the entire bridge.
On the blog My Travel Itineraries, you can find several tips on how to photograph the Hercílio Luz bridge from its best angles. The blog is written by Diego Minotto, business administrator and resident of Florianópolis.
Another tip is to access #pontehercilioluz on Instagram or look for inspiration in photos with the bridge location marking. To make it easier, we post the direct links here:
- #pontehercilioluz – https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/pontehercilioluz/
- location Hercílio Luz Bridge – Florianópolis – Brazil https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/102016321766948/ponte-hercilio-luz-florianopolis/
Hercílio Luz Bridge in art
A symbol of Florianópolis, the famous bridge has appeared in several works or has been a reference for them. In 2019, the year of its reopening, it became the theme of an exhibition. The exhibition “Ponte Hercílio Luz [Hercílio Luz Bridge]” was available for visits until May 2020 at the Historical Museum of Santa Catarina. Those who visited could see photographs, equipment, and original fragments removed from the bridge during the construction work.
In music, it is also present. The song “Ponte Hercílio Luz “, for example, was written by Luiz Henrique Rosa and has already been re-recorded by Martinho da Vila. Check out the lyrics:
Hercílio Luz Bridge
Hercílio Luz Bridge
With naked eyes
The sun in the twilight
It’s beautiful
Northeast or southerly wind
Cloudy or very blue
Stormy or calm
It’s alluring
That lets go and come
That takes and brings the light
Black, white
Carijós, life
Daughter of courage
Of love with much ardor
Solidarity is your image
River dolphin playing in the bays
In Jurerê-Mirim
Indigenous, pirates
Suddenly
Wonderful bridge
And today you are scenery
Of our tradition
Of strength, of the mission of glory
Have our gratitude
You are our eternal jewelry
You are in the heart of our history
Hercílio Luz Bridge
With naked eyes
The sun in the twilight
It’s beautiful
Northeast or southerly wind
Cloudy or very blue
Stormy or calm
It’s alluring
That lets go and come
That takes and brings the light
Black, white
Carijós, life
Daughter of courage
Of love with much ardor
Solidarity is your image
River dolphin playing in the bays
In Jurerê-Mirim
Indigenous, pirates
Suddenly
Wonderful bridge
And today you are scenery
Of our tradition
Of strength, of the mission of glory
Have our gratitude
You are our eternal jewlery
You are in the heart of our history
Luiz Henrique Ros
The famous bridge has also appeared in Rede Globo’s soap operas: Como uma Onda [Like a Wave] (2004) and Insensato Coração [Irrational Heart] (2011) are examples.
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And you? Have you taken good pictures on the bridge? Forward to @lkdesignhotel’s Instagram so that we can repost the best ones.
And remember: if you are visiting or working in the capital of Santa Catarina, and are interested in architecture and design, we recommend a visit to the bridge and, for a trip with a lot of comfort and safety, get to know the structure of the LK Design Hotel..
