 He studied mathematics and natural philosophy, first at Parma and then at the University of Bologna, where he obtained his degree "ad honorem" in 1845.From 1855 to 1864 he was director of the Astronomic Observatory of Bologna, and during these years he discovered three comets, #1862 IV, #1863 III and #1863 V.
In 1865 he was nominated director of the Astronomic Observatory of the Campidoglio, in Rome.The crater Respighi on the Moon is named after him.