Wanderlust World Wanderlust World If you're planning a trip to London's National Gallery hoping to catch a glimpse of the world's most famous smile, you'll need to adjust your itinerary. The Mona Lisa has never resided in the British capital. Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece has called the Louvre Museum in Paris home since the French Revolution, and it remains the crown jewel of that institution's collection today.
The confusion is understandable—the National Gallery houses an extraordinary collection of European art, including works by da Vinci himself (such as The Virgin of the Rocks). But the Mona Lisa's journey took a different turn. Acquired by King Francis I of France in the 16th century, it entered the royal collection and eventually became property of the French Republic. Aside from a famous 1911 theft (when it was hidden in Italy for two years) and wartime evacuations, it has rarely left the Louvre.
So, while London offers artistic treasures aplenty, a pilgrimage to see La Joconde requires a trip across the Channel to Paris.