In 1679 , Bishop Miguel Jerónimo de Molina and the cathedral chapter decided to replace the medieval choir with one built in the Baroque style , and the architect Lorenzo Gafà was appointed to design and oversee the construction . The cathedral were severely damaged a few years later in the 1693 Sicily earthquake , and although parts of the building were undamaged , on 11 April 1693 the decision was taken to dismantle the old cathedral and rebuild it in the Baroque style to a design of Gafà . The choir and sacristy , which had survived the earthquake , were incorporated into the new cathedral . Works began in 1696 , and the building was almost complete by 1702 . It was consecrated by Bishop Davide Cocco Palmieri on 8 October 1702 . The cathedral was fully completed on 24 October 1705 , when work on the dome was finished . The building is regarded as Gafà 's masterpiece
1693 Sicily earthquake
1693 Sicily earthquake
St Paul's Cathedral, Mdina