Arcadele

Arcadele, the Romanian plural form of arcadă, refers to an arcade: a succession of arches carried by columns or piers that forms a covered passage, gallery, or portico. The term is used in architectural description to denote a structure in which multiple arches create a sheltered walkway, sometimes opening onto shops or interior courtyards. Etymology traces arcadă to Latin arcus (arc), with the word entering Romanian via French or Italian.

In practice, arcadele appear in urban and religious architecture across Europe, spanning Romanesque to Renaissance and later periods. They can be exterior façades that shelter pedestrians along a street, or interior cloisters and arcades within churches, markets, and palaces. The arches may be semicircular, pointed, or more slender in form, reflecting the stylistic language of the building.

Beyond aesthetics, arcadele provide shade and a social space, influence pedestrian flow, and delineate public-frontage zones. In Romanian architecture and town planning, the concept is commonly discussed in studies of historic centers and preserved architectural heritage, where arcaded streets contribute to urban character and historical identity.

Modern usage often retains the term to describe shopping galleries or covered promenades that reproduce the function of traditional arcades, though contemporary versions may incorporate steel, glass, or other modern materials while preserving the row of arches.

See also: arcade, portico, colonnade, cloister.