Hercílio Luz Bridge is the great visual symbol of Florianópolis, a steel suspension bridge connecting Santa Catarina Island with the mainland. Opened in the 1920s, it gave the island a permanent road link and remains the city's most recognizable piece of engineering.
The bridge is especially good from the waterfront at dusk, when the truss silhouette stands out against the bay. Even if you cross by another route, it is worth seeking out a viewpoint because the bridge explains the geography of the city: island capital, mainland suburbs, and a narrow channel between them.