A small Tuscan town appears to be in the background of one of the world’s most famous portraits, Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.

Italian historian Silvano Vincetti has claimed that the bridge behind the enigmatic Mona Lisa is Romito, located in the province of Arezzo, according to the Guardian website. If what the Italian historian claims is true, one of the biggest mysteries surrounding Da Vinci’s famous work of art is solved.

“Today only one arch of the bridge remains, but in the period between 1501 and 1503 the bridge existed and was functional as shown by a document about the property situation of the Medici family, found in the state archives of Florence,” said the historian .

It was precisely at this time that Da Vinci was in the Val d’Arno region, first in the service of Cesare Borgia, known as Valentino, and then in the service of Pier Soderini.

Photo source: Le Rocca Cultural Association

The Romito Bridge which literally rests on two cliffs, had four arches. It was used as a shorter route by those wishing to travel between Arezzo, Fiesole and Florence.

Vincetti measured the width between the banks of the river and, using the size of the remaining arch, found that four arches of the same size fit perfectly across the span. He also mentioned that there are also historical documents that certify that Leonardo often stayed in Fiesole at that time, with an uncle who was a priest.

Simona Neri, the mayor of Laterina, said Vincetti’s theory had caused a lot of excitement in the town of just over 3,500 residents. “We have to try to protect what’s left of the bridge, which will require funding,” he said.