[bbfan1991]

Researchers have opened graves in a decayed convent in Florence, Italy to try and find the woman who may have modelled for Leonardo da Vinci in his most famous painting.

According to Italian art historians, the real Mona Lisa was Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a rich silk merchant who commissioned the portrait. However, there is no confirmed proof of this.

Since April, the team have been working in the Saint Orsola convent, where Gherandini and her two daughters were nuns.

Researchers have claimed that if they can find her skull, they will be able to construct her face and compare it to the painting.

Silvano Vinceti, head of the National Committee for the Promotion of Historic and Cultural Heritage, told Sky News: "With this reconstruction of the face, there is a margin of error between four and eight percent, so we will know whether Leonardo used Gherardini or we will be able to draw other conclusions."

The team are also hoping that the project will reveal information about the bodies buried in the convent.