OKAY, HERE’S THE STORY

Set the scene.

The earthquake of January 1693 damaged Mdina’s old cathedral. Plans to modernise parts of the church were already underway before it struck.

Here’s the twist.

Architect Lorenzo Gafà guided the replacement. The new cathedral was consecrated in 1703, while the dome was completed in 1705.

Why it still matters.

So the building’s story is not simply destruction followed by invention. Earlier ambitions, structural concerns and rebuilding decisions all played a part.

🧠 One to think about +

What does this story change about the way you see Malta today? Pick one detail you’d tell a friend — then check its source below.