Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. is a national center for the Catholic Church of the United States. Construction ended in 2017, after 97 years from the groundbreaking ceremony. Church contains 70 chapels reflecting the origins of the Catholic immigrants in the USA. The most significant is the mosaic in the dome containing the Virgin Mary and procession of saints. This is the largest Catholic basilica in the US, but unfortunately, the ambiance of the church is far from sublimity. The interior is very modern. Shiny marble destroys the simplicity and solemnity of this church. This is the opposite of neo-Gothic Washington National Cathedral build in the same time, which is simple by design and much more dignified.
