Casa Noha is a small multimedia museum in Matera’s historic Sassi, housed in a stone dwelling once owned by the Noha family. Run by FAI, the Italian national trust, it uses the rooms themselves as a setting for a film projected onto their walls, bringing the city’s long history to life without relying on conventional display cases.
The presentation traces Matera from its prehistoric settlements through the difficult living conditions of the Sassi, where families often shared cramped cave homes with animals. It also explores the relocation of residents from the 1950s onwards and the district’s later restoration and recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Casa Noha is a useful first stop before exploring Matera: its intimate scale and focus on everyday life give context to the stairways, courtyards and rock-cut churches outside. Check current opening hours and screening languages before visiting, as schedules can change. Allow time to walk through the largely pedestrian historic centre, and wear shoes with good grip for the steep, uneven stone paving.