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Scientists say they are close to finding remains of woman who modelled for Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece Mona Lisa. Researchers have opened centuries-old tomb in Italian city of Florence. They believe they will find skeleton of da Vinci's muse Lisa Gioconda, wife of 16th-century silk merchant. Silvano Vinceti, head of Italy's National Committee for Promotion of Historic and Cultural Heritage, plans to test DNA of bones under church to determine whether or not Ms Gioconda is woman behind that famous, enigmatic smile. Mr Vinceti will then use computer graphics program to generate face from the skull and compare it to painting.

Leonardo da Vinci's painting has been constant source of fascination for art experts and ordinary folk alike. Vinceti said: "For centuries, historians world over have been coming up with various theories about who this enigmatic, mysterious woman could have been." He asks: "Was Gioconda model for Mona Lisa? Or was it some other model, as some people say? Or is it just construction of painter's fantasy?" Antonio Moretti, geologist from L'Aquila University told euronews.com website: "We were very lucky I'd say, because not only is there good amount of bone remains, but they are also disposed of in order at the bottom of crypt, with plate indicating they belong to Gioconda family."

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Good Luck. Scientists say they are close to finding remains of woman who modelled for Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece Mona Lisa. Researchers have opened centuries-old tomb in Italian city of Florence. They believe they will find skeleton of da Vinci's muse Lisa Gioconda, wife of 16th-century silk merchant. Silvano Vinceti, head of Italy's National Committee for Promotion of Historic and Cultural Heritage, plans to test DNA of bones under church to determine whether or not Ms Gioconda is woman behind that famous, enigmatic smile. Mr Vinceti will then use computer graphics program to generate face from the skull and compare it to painting. Leonardo da Vinci's painting has been constant source of fascination for art experts and ordinary folk alike. Vinceti said: "For centuries, historians world over have been coming up with various theories about who this enigmatic, mysterious woman could have been." He asks: "Was Gioconda model for Mona Lisa? Or was it some other model, as some people say? Or is it just construction of painter's fantasy?" Antonio Moretti, geologist from L'Aquila University told euronews.com website: "We were very lucky I'd say, because not only is there good amount of bone remains, but they are also disposed of in order at the bottom of crypt, with plate indicating they belong to Gioconda family."
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