Before the earthquake of 1693, the building stood under the walls of the Medieval castle, where now stands the St. Agnes's Church, built on the ruins of the late eighteenth century. Severely damaged by the earthquake, it was rebuilt in the center of the new town of Ragusa, in 1694. In 1718 it began a major expansion under the direction of Giuseppe Recupero and Giovanni Arcidiacono. The majestic facade, rich of carvings and sculptures and divided into five parties by large rusticated columns and pilasters, is enriched by three portals: the central one is decorated with columns and statues representing the Immaculate, the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist. In front is a large square, raised from the square below and surrounded by a stone balustrade pitch of 1745. The main entrance is flanked by two pairs of richly carved columns, supporting a broken pediment; the sides, the statues of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist and the center, in a kiosk, the statue of the Immaculate. On the left side of the table stands a bell tower of fifty meters (1820). The interior has a Latin cross with apsidal presbytery, is stone pitch, now plastered with capitals richly carved by master builder Carmelo Cultraro in 1731 and then gilded. The columns show large scrolls with verses of Holy Scriptures relating to the Baptist. In 1783, the dome was erected, later covered with copper plates. In the first half of the nineteenth century the altars of the aisles, originally carved and gilded, were transformed into small chapels. In 1848 it is realized the characteristic paving consists of slabs of stone pitch inlaid with white limestone, while in 1858 it built the great organ "Serassi", with its monumental choir in wood carved and gilded.