What is a Portico

A portico is a roofed passage that consists primarily of a series of giant and sharp arches that lead to the yard of a building.^[1] Porticos are usually used in the construction of religious houses of worship like mosques and churches.

Al-Aqsa mosque has two main porticos: the western portico and the northern portico.^[2] These porticos date back to the Ayyubid and Mamluk periods. The main reasons these porticos were built was to connect the landmarks of Al-Aqsa plaza and to protect people in the mosque in the event of severe weather.^[3]