Construction began around 1497 by order of the Catholic Monarchs; however, due to a lack of funds, work had to be halted in 1570. The church's long history has resulted in a combination of styles as distinct as the late Gothic of its interior and the Neoclassical of its exterior. Its façade is its most distinctive feature. The 17th century and the first half of the 18th represent a long hiatus, until the arrival in Gran Canaria of Diego Nicolás Eduardo , a canon from Tenerife , who had learned the rudiments of architecture during his time in Granada and Segovia . This clergyman then decided to continue the building. Instead of following the prevailing Neoclassical style, he extended it to the current apse using Gothic structures, thus maintaining the uniformity of the work.
The cathedral had two major construction phases, one from 1497 to 1570 and the other from 1781 to the present day.
