• Florence, ItalyImage by Flickr.com, courtesy of Steve
  
  

Florence

• Many scholars, like Vasari, believe that Leonardo da Vinci painted much of the Mona Lisa in Florence.
  
  

Milan

• However, the background portions of the Mona Lisa may have been painted in Milan, while da Vinci was vacationing in the area.
  
  

Cultural Hotbed

• Florence and the areas surrounding it made the most significant contributions to Italian culture during the Italian Renaissance. Like many other artists of the period, da Vinci made Florence home. This makes Florence an obvious choice for the birthplace of the Mona Lisa.
  
  

Uncertain Date

• It is accepted that da Vinci began his work on the Mona Lisa either at the end of February or the beginning of March in the year 1503 while he was living in Florence.
  
  

Time Span

• The Mona Lisa is often regarded as one of da Vinci's crowning achievements. It is believed that it took da Vinci three years and four months to complete.