Basilica of Saint Lawrence

The Basilica of Saint Lawrence is a Roman Catholic Church located in downtown Asheville. This church was designated a Basilica in 1993 because it has the largest freestanding elliptical dome in North America. The brick façade and dark colored domes of the basilica are stunning, but the intricate tiling on the inside is more magnificent. The basilica was built by the Spanish architect, Rafael Guastavino, who also designed several other buildings throughout the United States. After Guastavino completed his work on the Biltmore Estate, he designed and built the Basilica of St. Lawrence in 1905. Upon