n.
Garden walk or terrace typically formed by two rows of columns or posts roofed with an open framework of beams and cross rafters over which plants are trained.
Its purpose is to provide a foundation on which climbing plants can be viewed and to give shade. Known in ancient Egypt, pergolas were a common feature of early Renaissance gardens in Italy and subsequently throughout Europe. They had a marked revival during the Arts and Crafts Movement in Britain. See also arbor .