According to the dictionary, a portico is a porch or covered walkway with a roof supported by regularly spaced columns or enclosed walls. This pedestrian definition does not do justice to the intricate architecture that formed the grand entrances to ancient Greek temples.
From its roots as a principal feature in Greek temples, the portico became a prominent element in Roman architecture and continued in modern times in a plethora of classically inspired structures.
Some noteworthy examples of porticos are the East Portico of the United States Capitol, the portico adorning the Pantheon in Rome, and the portico of University College London.
