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Ornate religious complex featuring intricate mosaics, soaring domes, and chapels dedicated to the Virgin Mary from cultures around the world.
General Information
Masses and Confessions held daily
Tours available Monday to Saturday; closed on Sundays for tours
Donations are welcome
How to Get There
From central Washington, DC, take Michigan Avenue NE eastbound and follow signs to the Basilica located near Catholic University.
Overview
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is the largest Roman Catholic church in North America and one of the ten largest in the world, a neo-Byzantine landmark with a huge central dome, mosaics, marble interiors, and more than 80 chapels and oratories honoring Mary through different cultures. Built from 1920 to 1959, it draws nearly a million visitors a year. You can visit the Upper Church, the Crypt Church, and a museum with papal artifacts, including a golden rose from Pope Benedict XVI, and take daily tours or summer organ concerts.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles and official tourism pages for the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
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