The term PLACE FOR ICONS can be solved by the four letter word APSE. An APSE is a semicircular recess in a church, typically at the east end, containing the altar and often also the bishop's throne. It is a common feature of Romanesque and Gothic churches, and is also found in some mosques and synagogues. In architecture, an APSE is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome, also known as an exedra.