Cloister

Long corridor (porch), usually surrounding the internal courtyard on one or several floors, performing a communication function. Generally covered by a vault or flat ceiling, outward open most often by pillars or columns. The structure and function resemble the arcades, however, it differs from arcades in that, it is added to the face of the wall, while the arcades are equal to it. In the Middle Ages it was part of a monastery or castle.

return to the dictionary index