Born in 1909 in Fucecchio (Florence), he is held to be one of the most prestigious journalists in the world, most especially in his own country, Italy. He took his degree in the Sorbonne in Paris, from where he graduated in Political Science and Law, completing his History studies in Germany. Between 1939 and 1972, he was correspondent and columnist for "Il Corriere della Sera" -a newspaper with which he still collaborates-, witnessing some of the main events of our century, such as the II World War or the Spanish civil war.

An example of professional integrity, in 1974 he founded the independent newspaper "Il Giornale", only to leave it in 1994 over a disagreement with Silvio Berlusconi, one of its largest shareholders. Because of his concise and sincere editorial line against right and left-wing terrorism, he was the victim of a terrorist attack, in June of 1977, in which two members of the Red Brigade shot him in the legs. Years later he visited an exhibition by the prisoners in the prison of Milan where he shook hands with those who had carried out the attack and expressed his forgiveness.

As well as a journalist, he is also well known as a writer and historian, and has published such prestigious books as "History of Rome" (1957), "History of Greece" 1958), "Garibaldi" (1962) and "Dante and his century" (1964) among others, as well as novels such as "Y sogni muoino al alba" and "The General of la Rovere". In all of these, the critics highlight his great command of Italian.