Ultimately, this structure was razed by the 1693 earthquake that devastated the city. Reconstruction was soon begun under the architect Alonzo di Benedetto, and continued in 1757 by Francesco Battaglia. In 1757, the institution received a large endowment by Salvatore Ventimiglia, prince of Belmonte, and vicar general to Sicily, which allowed the seminary to grant professors of classical languages, theology, philosophy, mathematics and natural sciences as well as the addition of a publishing house.