Giovanni Battista Manna was born in Catania, but after youthful training in his native town, he moved to Rome. He also branched into writing poetic pastorals and idylls, including Licandro, a tragicomic pastoral play. He became a member of the following learned societies, such as the Accademia degli Umoristi in Rome, degli Oziosi in Naples, and the dei Riaccesi of Palermo.[1]