This has both a literal and symbolic definition.
Literally, a cloister is a covered walk forming the perimeter of a building’s open central square. It’s from the Latin word for “enclosure.”
Symbolically, “cloisters” refers to a separated religious life. To be “in cloisters” is to life a monastic life away from other people.
In that sense, “cloisters” can also be used to refer to a place of religious worship of study. (See: Synecdoche)