FLORENCE - The Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece 'the annunciation' has returned from Tokyo, and according to Florentine experts the painting is in the same condition that it left the Uffizi Gallery in Florence three months ago.

"It's in perfect condition," said conservation expert Roberto Boddi, who accompanied The Annunciation on the two trips.

"We took all precautions both ways with an extremely complex packing system. It was housed in a virtually futuristic case on its way to Florence". The Annunciation's return on Wednesday night marked the end of Italian art's biggest hit in Japan for three decades.

'The annunciation' was painted during da Vinci's late teens, being one of his first paintings. Experts say there are some flaws in it, but it is a remarkable masterpiece.

The painting, which had not been out of Florence's Uffizi gallery since World War II, was viewed by 800,000 people during its three months as the centerpiece of a show called The Mind of Leonardo.