Domenico Oliva was an Italian journalist, politician and literary critic.

His family had Neapolitan origins. He graduated as a lawyer at the University of Parma, and exercised the legal profession in Milan.

In Milan, he also was part of the literary world. In 1888 he is hired at the Corriere della Sera as a literary critic and political commentator. In 1890 he collaborates with Marco Prague in the drafting of the libretto for Puccini's Manon Lescaut, later finished by Luigi Illica.

In 1897, he is a candidate to Parliament for the Right, and is elected in Parma. His Letters of a young deputy are published in the weekly mass-circulation magazine The Italian Illustration. The following year he becomes the successor to Torelli Viollier as directior of the Courier, but remains permanently in Rome, preferring to follow closely the parliamentary proceedings. In 1900 he losses the post of director and that of deputy.

Through contacts with politicians Antonio Salandra and Sidney Sonnino, he takes part from the very first number to the journal Giornale d’Italia, founded in the capital in 1901. Oliva becomes editor as well as theatrical and literary critic. He holds also his own label, "Literary Notes", 1901-1913.

In 1910 he was among the founders of the Associazione Nazionalista Italiana. In 1913 leaves the Giornale d’Italy, in disagreement with the neutral line determined by the publishers, and passes to L’Idea Nazionale, part of the Associazione Nazionalista. In 1915 he became director of L’Idea.

Death seizes him suddenly at the age of 57 years.