South of Broad, Charleston, South Carolina, USA

This is the public sidewalk and entrance in front of the John Rutledge House Inn on Broad Street.

Ironwork at the front entrance to the Inn.

And on a quiet side street, a nice gate and walkway to come home to every evening for some fortunate homeowner.

I really don't know much about architecture but, it looks odd to me to combine Ionic columns with Corinthian columns in the same building. I also never knew that these porches are called piazzas. I thought piazzas were public squares in Italy but, according to the Historic Charleston Foundation: "In the buildings of Charleston, a piazza is defined as a covered open porch or veranda supported by columns or pillars and attached to the outside of a building. In Charleston such porches usually append to the side elevation of single houses and were intended as outdoor living space and a device to shade south- or west-facing windows from the heat of the sun. Piazzas are one of the most distinctive features of Charleston architecture." Now you know.

 

Flowers blooming in a window box in January is always a good sign for someone who has spent a few winters in New England.