He had a strict religious education and according to his father’s wish he was to become a priest.
Very soon young Giacomo discovered the pleasure of "knowledge", as an adolescent he dedicated himself to the study of classical and modern languages, of Hebraic, of history, philology, natural sciences and astronomy.

His "thirst for knowledge" and the desire to be the first – a cult for glory derived from ancient heroes’ feats – led him to measure himself against works of different genres.
IN that period he wrote:  "The History of astronomy from its origin until year 1811", "Essay on popular mistakes of the ancient ", "Oration of Italians in occasion of the freeing of the Piceno" and two tragedies, "La Virtù Indiana" and "Pompeo in Egitto".

Later he became an essayist and translator of classical texts,  in 1816, what was defined the passage from "erudition to the beautiful" which marked the beginning of poetic "production".

In those years the first symptoms of his delicate health:  weakening of his sight, asthma crisis and a form of scoliosis.
He approached sensistic and materialistic philosophy, studied Voltaire, Rousseau, Pascal.

In that period he composed the idylls "L'Infinito" and "Alla Luna", in 1824 started the "Operette Morali"  which are the emblem of Leopardi’s "cosmic pessimism".

A collaboration with a Milanese publisher - Stella – permitted him to move to Milan, Bologna and Florence, where he met Alessandro Manzoni, in Pisa  - there he composed "A Silvia" - .

Despite being conscious of his not very attractive physical appearance and his delicate health, Giacomo Leopardi, he often feel in love with women who did not correspond him at all, in Florence he fell in love with Fanny Targioni Tozzetti who inspired him with the cycle of "Aspasia".

In 1831 the first edition of the "Canti" was published, in 1832 the last operetta "Dialogo di Tristano e di un amico" and "Dialogo di un venditore di almanacchi e di un passeggere".

With his friend Antonio Ranieri he moved to Naples, in the meantime he finished the second edition of the "Canti" and wrote "La Ginestra" and "Il tramonto della Luna".

Very soon his health worsened and he was assisted with affection by his friends and his sister Paolina.

When Naples was devastated by cholera, Giacomo Leopardi’s tormented heart ceased to beat and his restless soul left this earth: it was the 14th of June 1837.