Born in Salerno, the son of the politician Alfonso, in 1950 Menna graduated in medicine at the University of Naples Federico II.

[1] While working as a doctor, in 1957 he made his literary debut with the critical essay Masaccio a Roma ('Masaccio in Rome'), published by La Fiera Letteraria.

[1] Major interest of Menna's studies were abstractism, artistic avant-gardes and new forms of art.

[1][3] Menna collaborated with numerous publications, including the newspapers Il Mattino and Paese Sera.

[1] He also served as a Campania regional councilor, elected in 1975 as an independent with the Italian Communist Party.