Bertolucci was born at San Lazzaro (province of Parma), to a family of agricultural bourgeoisie.

In the following year his work Fuochi di Novembre gained him the praise of Italian poets such as Eugenio Montale.

His marriage to Ninetta Giovanardi had given him two sons, Bernardo (1941–2018) and Giuseppe (1947–2012), both future film directors.

This work saw a noteworthy change of style in Bertolucci's poetry: while the first works were, according to Franco Fortini, characterized by "the choice of a humble language for pastoral situations", Viaggio d'inverno was more complex and was marked by an unsureness of feelings.

From 1975, together with Enzo Siciliano and Alberto Moravia, he directed the literary review Nuovi Argomenti.