The term 'BASILICA NICHE' is composed of two words: 'BASILICA' and 'NICHE'. A BASILICA is a large and important church building, typically rectangular in shape with a central nave and aisles. The word 'NICHE' refers to a shallow recess in a wall, usually for decorative purposes. The crossword solution for this term is 'APSE', which is an architectural feature found in many churches, including basilicas. An APSE is a semicircular or polygonal recess in the end wall of a church, typically containing the altar.