Parvise

Part of St. Peter's Square in Rome, the parvis of St. Peter's Basilica
Colonnade of St. Peter's Square

A parvis or parvise is the open space in front of and around a cathedral or church,[1] especially when surrounded by either colonnades or porticoes, as at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.[2] It is thus a church-specific type of forecourt, front yard or apron.