During the 12th century the old castle and its precinct were extended and, with the construction of new houses, became a town. In 1332 the new centre moved towards the Plaça Vella, where the vicar, the king’s representative in the municipal government, lived. It was around this time that building work started on the Town Hall, or Paeria, the church of Santa Maria and the convent of Sant Domènec. It became a nexus point along the various routes linking the small town with the other centres of population.