Scientists have inched closer to solving the mystery of 'Mona Lisa's' identity after they dug up a tomb in Florence to extract DNA, which they hope will identify the real-life muse for Leonardo da Vinci's painting.

The tomb contains the family of Lisa Gherardini, a silk merchant's wife who is believed to have posed for the artist's famous 16th century masterpiece. Scientists cut a round hole in the stone church floor above the family crypt of Florentine silk merchant Francesco del Giocondo.

The tomb lies behind the altar of the Santissima Annunziata Basilica in Italy, 'BBC News' reported. The DNA extracted from bones in the tomb will be compared with that of three female skeletons that were found buried last year at a nearby convent.

One of the skeletons is believed to be that of Gherardini. Researchers believe that some of the bones belong to at least one of her blood relation, probably her son, Piero. "When we find a match between mother and child -- then we will have found the Mona Lisa," said researcher Silvano Vinceti.