His family owned the most important enterprise in Dalmatia, the Gilardi e Bettiza cement factory, in the city of Split.

Bettiza moved to Gorizia after the end of World War II and the re-annexation of his native land to Croatia, at the age of 18.

as a journalist he devoted his attention to Eastern European countries and nationalities, and Southeastern Europe, Yugoslavian area in particular.

Bettiza's major novel, I fantasmi di Mosca (Phantoms of Moscow) is credited as the most extended published novel written in Italian language.

[5] Croatian President Stipe Mesić awarded him with "Red Danice hrvatske s likom Marka Marulića", after the proposal of the journalists from Split.