Major Works:
* "Eretici italiani del Cinquecento" (Italian Heretics of the Sixteenth Century, 1939): This is considered his most influential work, a seminal study of Italian religious dissent in the 16th century. He analyzes the social and cultural context that led to the rise of various heretical movements, focusing on figures like Bernardino Ochino, Pietro Carnesecchi, and Giordano Bruno.
* "La storia e i suoi problemi" (History and its Problems, 1951): A collection of essays exploring the nature of history, its methodology, and the role of the historian.
* "Studi e ricerche sulla Riforma" (Studies and Research on the Reformation, 1956): A collection of essays on various aspects of the Reformation, including the influence of Machiavelli and the relationship between religion and politics.
* "Niccolò Machiavelli e i suoi tempi" (Niccolò Machiavelli and His Time, 1958): A major study of Machiavelli's life and thought, offering a fresh perspective on the Florentine statesman's political philosophy.
Other Notable Works:
* "Elogio dell'eresia" (In Praise of Heresy, 1962): A collection of essays arguing for the importance of dissent and heterodoxy in intellectual and cultural life.
* "La fine di un mondo" (The End of a World, 1963): A posthumous collection of essays on the decline of the Renaissance.
Cantimori's works are characterized by their rigorous scholarship, intellectual depth, and nuanced understanding of historical complexities. He was a controversial figure due to his sometimes critical views of traditional historical narratives, but his work remains influential in the fields of Renaissance studies and the history of religious thought.