In 1853 the future King Umberto I of Italy visited La Spezia, and Capellini was presented to him when he came to view the collection.

To make a living he worked as a bookbinder, a teacher in a college of La Spezia and a manufacturer of electrical equipment.

After graduating he embraced the profession of a geologist, and began his exploratory research on the Apuan Alps.

[1] From 1858, Capellini spent most of his holidays in research and meetings in other European countries, including France, Switzerland, Romania, Turkey, Great Britain, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Greece, and Hungary.

He made many contacts and friends on this visit, as he had in Europe, which he was to use in his mission establishing international cooperation between geologists, including the exchange of comparative samples.

[7] Capellini was several times rector of the University of Bologna, and initiated the Geological Map of Italy project.