Born in Parma, Italy, Pitagora attended the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia and the acting school by Alessandro Fersen.

[2] In 1962 she made her theatrical debut with Gog e Magog, then appeared in a great number of stage works.

[2] In 1965 she achieved a wide popularity with the leading role of Lucia in the TV series I Promessi sposi directed by Sandro Bolchi.

[1][2] Pitagora's film career started in 1959 with an uncredited role in Costa azzurra;[2] she had fewer opportunities to show her talent at cinema, where is probably best known for the role of the unstable Giulia of Marco Bellocchio's Fists in the Pocket (1965).

[1] In 1969 she won the Nastro d'Argento for best actress thanks to her performance in the Luigi Comencini's giallo Unknown Woman.