The church of Santa Maria is documented from the year 890. In 999 the edifice was devastated by troops of Al-Mansur, as well as the whole city. In 1000 count Ramon Berenguer I of Barcelona, together with his mother Ermesinde and Oliva, bishop of Vic, decided to refurbish the church.Today only scanty remains are preserved of this Romanesque structure, and of its pre-Romanesque forerunner, including columns in the gallery (11th century), featuring columns with capitals having vegetable and geometrical motifs, and a 12th-century portal. During the 14th century, Manresa underwent a large expansion, and a new Gothic structure was thus added above the pre-existing church. Construction started in 1322, under design by architect Berenguer de Montagut, who had been previously working at Santa Maria del Mar in Barcelona