Devotion to Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu grew rapidly, and numerous pilgrims flocked to the chapel.
The present bishop, the Most reverend Gio Maria Camilleri, soon felt the necessity to build a bigger Church and after thirty years he succeeded to overcome all obstacles and a decision was taken to build a worthy sanctuary to accommodate the crowds and to be a beautiful shrine in honour of the Mother of God.
Many obstacles were encountered, so that construction was delayed for thirty years.
The foundation stone- a magnificent Basilica in Romanesque style was laid on 30th May 1920 in the presence of Karmini and an immense crowd of people.
The Church was blessed and opened to the Public by The Most Rev. Michael Gonzi, Bishop of Gozo, on 13th December, 1931.
In 31st August 1932 the Church was raised to the dignity of a Minor Basilica.
The Apostolic brief by which H.H.Pope Pius IX granted this privilege was signed by H.E. Card. Eugenio Pacelli, Secretary of the Vatican State, later Pope Pius XII.
The bell tower which commands the district, was completed in 1934. On Thursday 20h June 1935, by virtue of the Papal brief of Pope Pius XI, Cardinal Alessio Enrico L’Epicier crowned the Icon of the Blessed Virgin: ‘This golden crown is a token of your gratitude towards the Blessed Virgin, for the benefits which you have received from Her hands, will remain for ever, as a most eloquent guarantee of your boundless devotion towards the glorious Queen of Heaven ”
Following the great event of the coronation of the image of our Lady Ta Pinu, Mgr Guzepp Portelli intensify his task of adorning the Sanctuary with outstanding works of arts. He encouraged various benefactors who contributed generously towards the embellishment of the Basilica. Among the several contributors, the name of Frenç Mercieca commonly known as Frenc Ta’l-Gharb. He was instrumental in the completion of the Church’s building for the decorations, for fund raising and for spreading the devotion to Our Lady Ta’ Pinu all over Malta and Gozo. He was also instrumental to the setting up of the Via Crucis from the parvis of the Church which leads up to the Ghammar Hill.
Thanks t
o the generosity of various donors, other works of arts,paintings such as the altar pieces,the twelve mosaic murals in the nave and the fine stained-glass designs in the windows of the dome, the nave and the chapels.
A tower clock together with a nineteen-bell carillon was imported from Holland and installed on the majestic belfry of the Shrine. These were blessed on the 8th December 1969 for the feast of Immaculate Conception The embellishment of the Basilica continued over the years thanks to various donors and with the contributions of highly talented artists among whom it is worth mentioning Chev Alfred Camilleri Cauchi who also modelled the statues for the Way of the Cross And Emvin Cremona whose artistic paintings have influenced of many chefs d’oeuvres installed in the Basilica