A lot of mosques aren’t that glittery. There are different styles to building mosques; I found the Blue Mosque in Istanbul to feel somewhat like a cathedral, but lighter and with patterns instead of iconography. The only mosque I’ve been in that felt off was the Hagia Sophia, and that is because it was converted from an Orthodox cathedral so it feels different.

I’ve also been to an Art Deco cathedral in Brussels that felt off too. It is the only Art Deco cathedral I’ve been to, which makes sense given what was generally built with Art Deco.

I think that, for you, maybe a lot of it is that you’re seeing some places of worship in a vastly different architectural style that you’re used to. The combination of grandeur and out of context architectural presentation makes the place feel alien.