Architecture question?

[Stella Richards]

Hi,

It's something you often see in European architecture... along the edges of a piazza in Italy, for example. Instead of a modern open sidewalk that runs between a building and the street, you have a walkway that's covered by the building, but with open archways. The arches can be romanesque or Islamic, depending on the building's style. But the point is that it's open-air while still being enclosed by the building itself.

Does anyone know what this type of area is called?

Thanks in advance.