The house structure utilizes the traditional Matera technique of excavating living spaces into calcarenite rock.
The video installation spans the history of the city from prehistoric cave dwelling to modern urban revitalisation.
Casa Noha acts as the official FAI property for the city of Matera, focusing on cultural preservation.
The site was historically the private home of the Noha family before its conversion into an educational space.
The interior architectural layout maintains the original cave-dwelling characteristics, including internal cisterns.
Casa Noha is a multimedia visitor center located within a historic noble residence in the Sassi di Matera. The site features an immersive 25-minute video projection mapping display titled 'The Invisible Sassi' that covers the geological and human history of the city. Owned and managed by FAI (Fondo Ambiente Italiano), the house demonstrates the transition of the Sassi from a state of extreme poverty in the early 20th century to a UNESCO World Heritage site. The exhibits occupy several vaulted rooms carved directly into the tufa rock. It serves as an essential introduction to the city's complex urban evolution before visitors begin exploring the wider district. The property was donated to FAI by the Noha family, who were local residents. The presentation uses high-definition wall projections to illustrate the socio-economic transformations of Matera.
The view from the small terrace outside the entrance offering a direct vantage point over the Sasso Caveoso.
View the introductory video first, as it provides the necessary historical context to understand the rest of the Sassi.
Check the FAI website for potential closures on specific national holidays.
Wear comfortable, non-slip footwear, as the surrounding streets and internal stone floors are uneven.
Do not attempt to navigate the Sassi with wheeled luggage, as the stairs and steep slopes make it extremely difficult.
Open daily, but frequently closed on Tuesdays during the winter off-season.
Maintain silence during the video projection; photography is allowed but flash is prohibited.
