Castle of Guardasone, Medieval castle in Traversetolo, Italy

Castle of Guardasone is a stone fortress in Traversetolo featuring a rectangular tower divided into four main levels with original medieval walls still visible. The structure sits on a slope where defensive walls follow the natural terrain, preserving the layout from its earliest period.

Built perhaps as early as the 10th century to guard the ford over the Enza stream, the castle belonged to the Baratti branch of the counts of Canossa. The first record of the curte Guardasonis dates to 21 March 1165. In 1248 imperial troops of Frederick II occupied it during the battle of Parma, but Guelph forces under Rolando Rossi retook it and put King Enzo to flight.

The medieval name Guardaxonis may mean "Guardia degli Attoni", guard of the Attoni, cousins of the Canossa counts who held the castle. The peak above the castle is still called Guardiola, after the watchtower Azzo da Correggio built there in 1341.

The castle stands on the eastern slope of Monte Lugolo in the Ariana locality of Guardasone, a hamlet of Traversetolo. The site is not set up for public visits, so it is best viewed from the surrounding paths; the ruins of the Guardiola watchtower sit on the summit above.

The watchtower on the summit, called Guardiola, was built in 1341 by Azzo da Correggio as part of a double ring of walls. In 1346 Francesco Petrarca stayed at the castle and wrote the Latin poem La torre di Guardasone about his stay.