Star CastleIsles of Scilly • TR21 0JA • Other
Star Castle on St Mary's in the Isles of Scilly is an Elizabethan fortification built in 1593 on the orders of Elizabeth I's government in response to the threat of Spanish invasion. The castle takes its name from its distinctive eight-pointed star plan formed by angle bastions, one of the earliest and best-preserved examples of the Italian bastion fortification system in Britain. The projecting angle bastions eliminated defensive dead zones in front of the walls, allowing complete coverage of all approaches. Today operated as a hotel within the historic garrison buildings, Star Castle allows guests to stay within one of the finest examples of Elizabethan coastal defence in Britain. The Isles of Scilly are one of the most remarkable destinations in the British Isles, with subtropical vegetation, extraordinary marine life and exceptionally clear water.