The design of the church is based on the Pantheon in Rome! What is interesting about the Rotunda is that it was almost destroyed during World War II. On April 9, 1942, a German bomb pierced the dome of the church but never exploded, while two other bombs bounced off the dome and landed in the square without exploding either. This event became known as a miracle by Maltese people because more than 300 people were awaiting evening mass when it happened. You can now find a replica of the bomb inside that church, dedicated to this miraculous event.