Monteleone di Spoleto is a town and comune in the province of Perugia, in southeastern Umbria. It stands at above sea level, overlooking the upper valley of the Corno River. It is included among I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The Most Beautiful Villages of Italy").
In 2021 the municipality had a population of 539 inhabitants.
In 1527 the town was directly occupied by Spoleto, and a military garrison was installed. In the early 1540s it was incorporated into the Governorate of Norcia, Cascia, Cerreto and Monteleone, and a podestà-commissario was appointed. Between the 1540s and 1560 a succession of podestà, commissari and luogotenenti governed the community, appointed either by the pope or by the papal legate of Perugia.
The town is among the more remote settlements in Umbria and lies along a mountain road linking Norcia ( north-northeast) and Cascia ( north-northeast) with Leonessa ( south) and Rieti ( south-southwest) in Lazio.
Subdivisions
The municipality includes the localities of Il Colle, Monteleone di Spoleto, Rescia, Ruscio, Trivio.
In 2021, 126 people lived in rural dispersed dwellings not assigned to any named locality.
Religion and culture
San Francesco
thumb|Church of San Francesco
The church of San Francesco was built in the 14th century over a 12th-century Benedictine oratory. Although titled to the Madonna dell'Assunta, it has been known as San Francesco since Franciscans settled there around 1280.
Torre dell'Orologio
thumb|Torre dell'Orologio
Built around the 13th century, the Torre dell'Orologio is one of the three gates of the second circuit of walls. It stands at the entrance to the settlement and provides access to the church of San Francesco and to the oldest part of the historic center. From the tower there are views over the valley.