He was a famous socialist political figure and since a young age was a protagonist of the struggles which eventually brought him in prison and to exile but nevertheless developed his political ideals and extended his contacts far beyond the town of Imola. He was a charismatic leader, author of a text entitled “Letter to the friends of Romagna”, printed in 1879 where he urged to abandon armed fighting and to start democratic negotiations. In 1882 he won the elections as the first socialist member of the Italian Parliament and in 1889 he became the first socialist leader to head the town council. His remains are in the cemetery of Imola, with a dedication on a plaque by Giovanni Pascoli.