He was an important figure in the radical republican current within the Risorgimento movement and close to its leader and chief inspiration, Giuseppe Mazzini.

He received an education in jurisprudence in Ferrara, but began political activity in his native city, protesting against the bad administration of the Papal legates.

Saffi was a member of the government that attempted to establish a democratic republic, inspired by the United States.

They had four sons: Attilio Joseph (1858 - 1923), Emilio John (1861 - 1930), Charles Balilla Louis (1863 - 1896) and Rinaldo Arthur (1868 - 1929).

He spent his last days in his villa in the Forlì countryside, moving to Bologna where he had received a professorial chair.