Tourists who are visiting the church in Medieval Citadel in Sighisoara, Transylvania are left puzzled by a strange object depicted in a 400-year-old painting.

The painting is hanging on the wall of the 13th century monetary and shows an object which looks like a UFO.

It was first appeared in the 17th century after the place of worship burnt down.

However, Nicolae Tescula, manager of the history museum Sighisoara, thinks this unidentified object could just be the artist’s representation of heaven, as the Mirror reports.

Casting doubt on the theory it could show the first signs of alien life on earth, Tescula said: “The church is Evangelical and the image has a secondary role or is less representative.

“Indeed, there is a painting in the sacristy of the church with a religious scene that represents a cloud – perhaps Elijah’s assumption to Heaven – which looks like a dome, but can lead to a more modern representation that might make us think of a UFO.”

Tescula added: “Many say it’s a UFO, it looks like a UFO, it is an artist’s vision. They are like Leonardo da Vinci’s paintings, you can interpret them.”

The church is situated in the heart of the Medieval Citadel and has burnt down twice since it was built about 700 years ago.