Career
He is professor at the University of Siena and his primary research interests are the topography of Ancient Rome, the archaeology of Roman Mediterranean provinces, the economy and trade of Rome and Roman Empire. He received his laurea in Roman Archaeology at the University of Siena, and a doctorate at the University of Pisa, under the supervision of Andrea Carandini. At the University of Siena he was researcher (1992), associated professor (2002) and Ordinary Professor in Classical Archaeology (since 2005).
He was Director of the International Doctor of Philosophy programme Prehistory and Protohistory, History and Archaeology of the Ancient World and of the Ancient Societies of North Africa, Sahara and Mediterranean Levant Studies Centre, with B. Barich and M. de Vos.
His first work was devoted to the archaeology and topography of ancient Rome and Roman Etruria. He has excavated in North Africa, Egypt and Greece focussing on urban sites (Thamusida and Lixus in Morocco, Hephaistia on Lemnos and Dionysias in the Faiyum).