Only the original façade survived the bombing of World War II; the rest of the present building has been reconstructed.

The maestri di cappella include Fra Ruffino d'Assisi (1525–31),[2] Nicola Vicentino (1563–65), Giammateo Asola and his pupil Leone Leoni (1588-1627).

Early, temporary, roofing was erected in 1540, as a result of the possibility that Vicenza might host the Church Council which in the end was held at Trent.

Only in 1557 did the Comune of Vicenza receive the financial means necessary from the Republic of Venice, in the shape of a bequest left by Bishop Zeno at the beginning of the century, and were therefore able to set in motion the work's completion.

Andrea Palladio, the author of the new project,[4] most probably drew up an overall design which was however executed in two phases: from 1558 to 1559 the main cornice was built over the windows and the drum raised, while from 1564 to January 1566 the dome itself was constructed.