Italian historian claims to have identified bridge in Mona Lisa backdrop

The Italian historian Silvano Vinceti said he had no doubt that the Romito di Laterina bridge in the province of Arezzo was what Leonardo had painted into the countryside landscape behind the enigmatic Mona Lisa, which would end a mystery that has fuelled countless disputes over the years.

Theories in the past have identified the bridge as Ponte Buriano, close to Laterina, as well as Ponte Bobbio in the northern Italian city of Piacenza.

Only one arch of the Romito, which stretched across the Arno river, remains, as do the foundations of the bridge on the opposite side of the riverbank.

The bridge provided a shortcut that reduced the journey between Arezzo, Fiesole and Florence by several hours.

Vinceti measured the width in between the riverbanks and, using the size of the remaining arch, established that four arches of the same size fitted perfectly across the stretch.

Vinceti also found documents that attest to Leonardo often residing in Fiesole at the time, with an uncle who was a priest.

She said a cycle path was being developed along part of the Arno that passes by what is left of Ponte Romito, and that she hoped the claimed link to the Mona Lisa would bring more tourists to the area.

Vinceti has made several other claims about the Mona Lisa in the past, including that Leonardo used a male and female model in the portrait, which hangs behind a bulletproof glass in the Louvre in Paris.