Many people think that the famous painting by Leonardo is located in one of the beautiful villas with Lago Maggiore view and that the one in the Louvre is only a fake. Whether it is true or not, a rather strange story about it exists. Let’s discover something more about it!
Just take the most famous painting in the World, add a mysterious theft and then put it all on Lago Maggiore: the result would be the perfect plot for a sci-fiction film. And indeed, it will soon become a hollywoodian movie, but at the same time it remains a real story, with more than 100 years of history at its back. What if the real Mona Lisa wasn’t in the Louvre but was currently located in one of the historical villas on Lago Maggiore instead? Many think so. Let’s see why.
1911. THE THEFT OF LEONARDO’S GIOCONDA
The Mona Lisa has been stolen only once. It happened in 1911, when Vincenzo Peruggia, a man coming from Dumenza on Lago Maggiore, smuggled the famous painting and brought it to Italy, where it remained hidden for the next two years, before being found again in Florence.
Many people claim that the canvas found in Florence is just a fake and that the authentic painting is still hidden somewhere around Dumenza. What if it was still located in one of the luxury villas Lake Maggiore? Asking Graziano Ballinari about the theft is surely the starting point of our quest. The old man coming from Valle Veddasca is pretty sure that the famous Mona Lisa is still hidden in the area. “The painting is in Valle Veddasca” - Graziano said - “and it never left. It’s hidden in a little church in the valley, in Graglio”.
Although not being so well-known, this story will soon become the plot of a Hollywood movie by Jodie Foster. Before her, only Seymour Reit had written about it in his book “The Day They Stole The Mona Lisa”, published in 1981.
The mystery hasn’t been unveiled yet, but if you’d like to know a bit more about the Mona Lisa and its fascinating story, then you shouldn’t miss the exhibition dedicated to the myth and “I volti segreti della Gioconda”, which will be held at the Parisi-Valle di Maccagno Civic Museum till March, 8th. It’s a journey through the works of art, that have been inspired by the most renowned female icon created by Leonardo Da Vinci.
A rather incredible story, making us wonder if the Mona Lisa isn’t actually hidden among the wonderful houses for sale Lago Maggiore. Just start rummaging through your house and make sure the most enigmatic smile in history it’s not hiding in your attic!
Lun - Ven 9/13 - 14/18 Sab 9/13 Domenica - Su appuntamento
Mon - Fri 9/13 - 14/18 Sat 9/13 Sunday - On appointment
Mo - Fr 9/13 - 14/18 Sa 9/13 Sonntag - Nach Vereinbarung