The Torre Civica (Civic Tower), better known locally as the “Campanòn” (dialect for “campanone”, a great bell tower), is a celebratory monument and enduring symbol of Guastalla’s community. It stands on the site of the town’s former fortress: the Rocca of Guastalla, demolished by the Spanish Army in 1689.

After the Rocca’s destruction, Duke Antonio Ferdinando sought to restore dignity to this historic place and, in 1723, commissioned the creation of a new square, the “Piazza d’Armi” (Eng., Parade Ground). To complete the square, the Municipal Council decided to erect a bell tower, both to commemorate and to symbolize the fortress that was lost. The design was entrusted to the Parmesan architect Cristoforo Bettoli, known as the “Trivellino”, and completed in 1732, with a dedicatory stone honoring the magnanimity of the last Gonzaga rulers.

Inside the belfry hang two 18th-century bronze bells and a smaller one with medieval features. Their chimes have long marked more than the passing of time: they have accompanied the most significant moments in Guastalla’s history - from military invasions to floods, from Italy’s liberation on April 25, 1945, to the convening of municipal councils.

In early 2025, restoration work began on the tower, supported by funds raised through the Art Bonus project “Tutti per il Campanòn” (All for the Campanòn).