Museum of Sant’Orsola
The Sant’Orsola monastery in Florence, Italy is home to the grave of Monna Lisa, who is generally accepted to be Lisa Gherardini. It is believed that Lisa Gherardini served as the model for Leonardo da Vinci’s well-known “Mona Lisa.”
Researchers have been looking for her remains in recent years. To locate her grave, research and excavations have been carried out at the convent of Sant’Orsola. Following the discovery of bones at the location in 2012, DNA testing was done to determine whether Lisa Gherardini’s remains were among them.
Although the precise identification of her bones has been a difficult procedure including scientific investigation and historical documents, Sant’Orsola is acknowledged as the woman’s most likely last resting place who is behind the mysterious grin in da Vinci’s masterwork.
In 2026, the old convent housing the purported Gioconda’s tomb will open.
The Sant’Orsola Museum plans a number of exhibits that take over the building site until its formal inauguration in 2026. These shows invite modern artists to focus their attention on the monument and its history. Visitors will be able to take part in the revitalization of the area while an exhibition is on display, progressively reclaiming locations that have been taken away from the city’s life for far too long.
