Amedeo de Francisco di Settignano, also known as Meo del Caprino, designed it and completed the construction in seven years.

Quadri had moved from Rome to join the court of Duke Charles Emmanuel II of Savoy in Turin.

His design was based on an earlier project by Carlo di Castellamonte: it included building an oval chapel behind the choir.

The construction of the dome took 28 years: it was completed in 1694 under the direction of Marie Jeanne of Savoy, Charles Emmanuel II's widow.

The cathedral is the burial place of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901–1925), Turin native, avid athlete, and benefactor of the poor, called the "saint for youth of the Third Millennium."