MONTELEONE, a town of Naples, in the province of Calabria Ultra II., in a lofty position, 15 miles N.E. of Nicotera. Its imposing appearance is heightened by its castle, which overlooks the town. The town itself is irregularly and meanly built, chiefly of wood, and is badly paved. There are four churches, with some fine paintings; a royal college; and a court of commerce. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in the tunny fishery; but there are also some silk-mills; and a considerable trade is carried on. N. of the town, and on the coast, stands the village of S. Pietro di Vivona, where there are some remains of the harbour of Hipponium or Vibo, a city of considerable importance in ancient times. It was originally a colony from the Epizephyrian Locrians, on the other side of the peninsula of Bruttium; but was taken B.C. 389 by Dionysius of Syracuse, who transported the people to that town. Ten years later they were restored by the Carthaginians; but soon afterwards the town fell into the hands of the Bruttians, in whose possession it remained till conquered by the Romans. A colony was established here by the latter in 192 B.C., and the city became one of the most flourishing in this part of Italy. It had large dockyards for ship-building, and was
conveniently situated for trade both by land and by sea. The ancient town probably stood on the same site as the modern, which is not older than the thirteenth century; but there are no ancient remains to be seen. Pop. 6630.