Forte Stella, Military fort in Portoferraio, Italy.

Forte Stella is a star-shaped fortress built on a headland overlooking Portoferraio harbor, featuring five corner bastions and thick brick walls. Inside are a chapel, former military barracks, storage rooms, and underground passages designed for defense and daily operations.

Built in 1548 by architects Giovanni Camerini and Giovan Battista Belluzzi, this fortress was part of the Medici family's defense network protecting the Tuscan coast. It served to guard the region's harbor and shipping routes against attacks.

The fort's name comes from its star-shaped plan, with five corner bastions that still retain part of the original sentry boxes. A chapel was built inside the walls as a place of prayer for the sentinels on duty, standing among the powder magazine, armoury, storerooms, garrison quarters and a hospital.

Visit early in the morning or early afternoon for the best light and fewer crowds. The site is relatively accessible on foot, though comfortable shoes are recommended due to uneven paths and some steps throughout the grounds.

The lighthouse on the northeastern corner was built in 1788 under the House of Lorraine, not by Leopold personally; its purpose was to signal the headland in front of the harbour at night. It stands on a circular plan among the five corner bastions, some of which keep their original sentry boxes.