Cathedrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde (Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral), Montreal (must see)

If you think skyscrapers have the last word in downtown Montreal, look up. Rising confidently among the glass and steel is a dome that feels suspiciously Roman.

This is Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral, and yes, that dome is modeled on Saint Peter's Basilica. Think of it as Rome’s greatest architectural hit—re-recorded in Québec. Slightly scaled down, perhaps, but impressively faithful, right down to the red copper baldachin above the altar, hand-carved in Rome itself. No shortcuts here...

Completed in the 1890s, the cathedral somehow manages to look older than it is, while also feeling more streamlined than many of its European cousins. Compared to Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal, its interior feels lighter, calmer, and almost minimalist.

The design is clean, the lines are clear, and the colours lean toward soft pastels rather than dramatic flourishes. On a sunny day, the stained glass comes alive, casting shifting light across the ceiling, the altar, and the organ pipes at the rear. It's the kind of place where you instinctively lower your voice.

Take a moment near the baptismal font and look up: a striking stucco crucifix crowns it—one of Québec’s most significant religious sculptures. Around you, Italian marble stretches across floors and walls, adding a quiet sense of grandeur. The artwork pays tribute not just to biblical figures but to Montreal’s own spiritual history, including Marguerite Bourgeoys and Marguerite d’Youville, founder of the Grey Nuns. This cathedral tells the city’s story as much as it echoes Rome’s.

Step outside and glance at the façade. You’ll notice 13 statues—just like at Saint Peter’s—but with a local twist. Instead of Jesus and the 12 apostles, these figures represent patron saints from parishes that supported the diocese, including Saint Hyacinthe, Saint Francis of Assisi, and Saint John the Baptist. A European silhouette, a distinctly Canadian cast...

The overall effect is peaceful, dignified, and unexpectedly transportive. For a moment, downtown Montreal fades away, and you could almost believe you’ve wandered into an old basilica somewhere in Europe—just with better maple syrup nearby...

And before you leave, have a look at the gift shop. It carries distinctive jewellery and religious keepsakes—small reminders that Rome may be far away, but its architectural spirit has clearly made itself at home here.