Lorenzo Gafà designed the present cathedral, which is described as his masterpiece. The 1693 Sicily earthquake severely damaged the medieval cathedral, and on April 11, 1693 the decision was made to dismantle it and rebuild in the Baroque style. Works began in 1696, and it was consecrated on October 8, 1702. The dome was finished on October 24, 1705.
The infobox gives limestone, and some marble came from Roman ruins at Carthage and Melite. The choir and sacristy survived, and artifacts from the old cathedral were reused, including a font of 1495 and a door of 1530. The style shows some influence from native Maltese architecture.
An earthquake in 1856 destroyed the dome frescoes. The cathedral seats the Archdiocese of Malta, and the Cathedral Museum holds 76 Dürer woodcuts. It is a Grade 1 national monument.
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