Bartolini left his home in Rimini, Italy on March 17, 2003 and set out on by motorcycle for India, where he planned to visit the tomb of Mother Teresa.
On April 8, his motorcycle broke down in Qalat, Afghanistan. After fixing his motorcycle there, he spent the night in a hotel and then continued his journey towards Shahjoy the next day. Near Shahjoy his motorcycle broke down again. He hired a car to take him to Kabul. On the way, the car was stopped by two men on a motorbike. They shot Bartolini but not the driver. No money was reported stolen.
Bartolini's body was later taken to the Kabul Military Hospital.