Notre-Dame-de-la-Défense Church (Madonna della Difesa)

In the heart of Little Italy, Église Notre-Dame-de-la-Défense stands as a cornerstone of Montreal’s Italian-Canadian story. Built between 1918 and 1919 for a growing immigrant community, the neo-Romanesque structure was designed by Guido Nincheri, a Florentine-born artist whose influence is felt throughout the church’s richly painted interior. His frescoes—most famously the one spanning the apse, completed in the 1930s—blend Renaissance technique with modern iconography, placing historical figures alongside saints. From its Greek-cross plan and Caen stone foundation to its Carrara marble altar and dome-topped transept, the building is a study in cultural hybridity. Officially recognized as a National Historic Site in 2002, the church still functions as both a place of worship and a community anchor. Outside, Dante Park offers a quieter stage for neighbourhood rhythms—bocce games, coffee-fuelled conversations, and the everyday rituals of a quartier that still bears the imprint of its early builders.