He enrolled at the university but was forced to leave it during the Second World War.

In 1945, after the liberation of Bologna, he joined the Italian Communist Party.

During his mandate, the PEEP public housing plan and the construction of the "Fiera District" (based on a project by architect Kenzō Tange) were approved.

On 29 July 1970, Guido Fanti resigned from office because he was elected the first president of the Emilia-Romagna Region.

In 1983, he was elected senator of the IX legislature and remained in office until 1987.