Basilica of Saint Lawrence

Posted: 02.07.2025 | Updated: 02.24.2025

Of the many haunted places within Asheville, the Basilica of Saint Lawrence might be the most wondrous. Within its sacred walls, visitors find themselves captivated by its expansive dome, intricate tile, and ornate stained glass windows. 

Even to those who don’t ascribe the Catholic religion, the building seems to exude an air of reverence and a slightly otherworldly atmosphere. It’s no marvel why. This highly spiritual space is rumored to be haunted by more than the holy ghost. 

Read on to examine the history of this grandiose basilica and be chilled by its accounts of unearthly activity. Intrigued enough to discover all that Asheville has to offer in terms of haunted locales? Book a ghost tour with Asheville Terrors.

Is the St. Lawrence Basilica Haunted? 

When it comes to haunted basilicas, St. Lawrence is Asheville’s only one. In fact, this magnificent basilica is the only one you’ll find in all of North Carolina. But this church isn’t just recognized for its revered status; it’s also known for its ghosts. 

Many believe the Basilica of Saint Lawrence is haunted by its creator, Rafael Guastavino, who was interred within the wall of the building. Yet tales also radiate of other spirits within this grand church. Perhaps Guastavino’s specter lingers to appreciate his masterpiece, unable to tear himself away from his crowning achievement.

Basilica of Saint Lawerence | An Enduring Masterpiece

There would be no basilica in Asheville, North Carolina, if it weren’t for the Spanish architect Rafael Guastavino. Guastavino had been drawn to Asheville to assist with work on the Biltmore House in the late 1800s, yet decided to stay, choosing Black Mountain to build an estate for him and his second wife.

His design for the basilica was selected in 1905, and building soon commenced. However, he did not construct the Basilica of Saint Lawrence alone. Architect and fellow Catholic, Richard Sharp Smith aided in the project of designing and erecting the magnificent church. 

The materials that make up the basilica are particularly unique. It contains no wooden or steel beams, only tile and masonry materials like stone, brick, and mortar. The building reflects the style of the Spanish Renaissance Revival, using Catalonian methods and materials. The dome, said to be the largest unsupported dome in North America, is composed entirely of tiles and stretches 58 by 82 feet.

Sadly, this monumental project would be Guastavino’s last. After dying in 1908, his son would enlist to complete the undertaking, finishing construction in 1909. Gustavino seemed reluctant to leave his project unfinished. As requested, he was entombed within the structure. 

Many believe the basilica in Asheville to be Guastavino’s masterwork. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and granted the designation of basilica by the pope in 1993.

Strange Sensations and Sightings at Saint Lawerence

The Basilica of Saint Lawrence seems to remain as haunting as it is majestic, having held a variety of unusual happenings within its hallowed walls. 

Those who’ve toured the basilica have heard inexplicable sounds inside the awe-inspiring church. Strange voices and distant organ music have been reported — as if someone continues to play the church’s grand pipe organ from some distant other plane. 

Just who might this ghostly player be? Some believe the ghost of a former priest haunts the basilica, possibly having died on the church grounds. Yet this spirit is not the only one said to haunt the halls. The architect, buried within a crypt inside this architectural marvel, has long been rumored to remain in his masterpiece.

Guastavino seemingly poured the last of his soul into his final project, and many who follow his work consider the basilica his most notable undertaking. Given this, why wouldn’t his soul linger on, eternally tied to his enduring accomplishment?

Some have claimed to see the spirits of Guastavino and his wife within the majestic monument, although his widow was buried at the nearby Riverside Cemetery rather than interred with him. Could it be that she likes to pay him a ghostly visit now and again? Who says ghosts can’t haunt other ghosts, after all?

Visitors have also reported various odd occurrences, including cold spots, strange orbs, and doors opening and closing seemingly of their own will. These possible signs of a spirit at unrest could be linked to Guastavino, who may have more than one reason to fear facing judgment in the afterlife. 

While many sources cite that this famous architect relocated to Asheville because he liked the area, some historians have argued his move might have been motivated by a very different reason. 

The Tainted Tale of Rafael and Francesca

Guastavino’s work may have been immaculate, but his private life was, at times, quite stormy. Although born in Valencia, he moved to Barcelona to study architecture, living with his aunt, uncle, and their adopted daughter, Pilar. After Pilar became pregnant, the couple married young, having three children.

But this romance was not to last. Pilar left Rafael, moving to Argentina after discovering Rafael’s affair with the nanny, Paulina. After gaining the title of master builder, Rafael moved with his youngest son and Paulina to New York in 1881, where she was named as his housekeeper. 

But trouble was soon to brew again. He opened an office in Boston, and between travels to and fro with New York, he became acquainted with a much younger woman named Francesa Ramirez. Soon, Rafael moved her into his New York City home, calling her his daughter. 

Meanwhile, Rafael had become familiar with Asheville after working on the Biltmore home. He likely decided to move there, in part, so he no longer had to sustain the pretense in New York.

There was only one hitch — Rafael was still legally married to his first wife. He attempted to locate his estranged wife by placing advertisements in South American newspapers. After hearing nothing, he married his new bride in 1894, although census reports later supported that Pilar still lived. 

In Asheville, they built a new life, constructing a home where Francesca remained until shortly before her death, nearly four decades after Rafael’s. 

Given this, it is interesting to ponder: had Rafael Guastavino’s love life not been so untidy, we might never have the majestic basilica in Asheville. Perhaps the spirit of Guastavino lingers in the structure, not to appreciate his masterpiece, but because he fears facing his many paramours in the afterlife.

Haunted Asheville

Despite their unconventional beginnings, it seems apparent that Francesca loved her husband very deeply. After the famous architect passed, she dressed only in black and secluded herself within their home, stopping the clock in the tower at the hour of his death. Their romance only continues to add to the otherworldly allure of the majestic structure that he last built. 

The Basilica of Saint Lawrence offers both guided and self-guided tours detailing the art and architecture of the illustrious basilica. If you’d like to embark on a spookier excursion, consider booking a ghost tour with Asheville Terrors.

To read more absorbing tales of haunted venues and historic sites in the Land of the Big Sky, visit our blog. Additionally, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for more creepy content.

Sources:

• https://828newsnow.com/news/228822-tombstone-tales-the-architect-of-new-york-interred-in-asheville-basilica/ 
• https://saintlawrencebasilica.org/the-basilica
• https://www.liturgicalartsjournal.com/2024/06/basilica-of-st-lawrence-is-gustavino.html
• https://avltoday.6amcity.com/basilica-saint-lawrence-history-asheville-nc
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42731494/francisca-guastavino
• https://www.northcarolinahauntedhouses.com/real-haunt/basilica-st-lawrence.html 
• https://wisesportsradio.com/news/228822-take-your-own-ghost-tour-haunted-places-in-the-asheville-area/ 
• https://www.exploreasheville.com/article/top-10-haunted-spots-asheville 
• https://www.ashevillehistory.org/guastavino-infidelity/ 
• https://www.history.swannanoavalleymuseum.org/rafael-guastavino/