Casa Noha, Matera

Historic Building, Historic Room and Museum in Matera

Casa Noha
Casa Noha
©

Casa Noha is a small historic house-museum tucked into Matera's Civita quarter, just a short walk from the Cathedral and the stone lanes that knit the Sassi together. Rather than a traditional gallery, it's best known for a multimedia film experience that quickly orients you to Matera's landscape, history, and the lived reality of its rock-cut neighborhoods.

It's an ideal first stop on a walking tour: watch the film, get your bearings, then head straight into the Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso to recognize what you're seeing in real time. If you're choosing “best places to see” in Matera with limited time, Casa Noha works as the context-builder before viewpoints, cave houses, and rupestrian churches.

History and Significance of the Casa Noha

Casa Noha sits in the heart of Matera's oldest core, where layers of history are stacked as tightly as the city's stone architecture. The building itself is part of the story: a domestic space that reflects how Matera evolved, from more formal town life near the Cathedral to the rugged, ingenious world of the Sassi.

What makes Casa Noha significant today is its role as a “gateway” experience. Instead of relying on labels and display cases, it uses a short, immersive film projected onto the house's pale stone surfaces to explain the city's long timeline and the social history of the cave-dwelling districts.

For many visitors, this context changes the rest of the trip: the cistern systems, carved stairways, and cave interiors stop being picturesque backdrops and start reading like a living, adaptive urban ecosystem.

Things to See and Do in the Casa Noha

The main event is the multimedia presentation, designed to be a compact but emotionally engaging introduction to Matera. You'll follow the city's story across centuries, with visuals and narration that help you understand why the Sassi look the way they do and how people actually lived here.

Beyond the film, take time to notice the house itself: the proportions of rooms, the stone textures, and the sense of being inside a real dwelling rather than a purpose-built museum. It’s a subtle but important part of the experience, especially if you’re comparing it with a furnished cave house later.

After your visit, use Casa Noha as a launchpad: walk toward the Cathedral terrace area for views, then descend into the Sassi lanes. If you're joining a guided walk, doing Casa Noha first makes the guide's references click faster.

How to Get to the Casa Noha

The nearest major airports are Bari Karol Wojtyła (Bari) and Naples International (Naples), with Bari usually the most convenient for Matera. For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Matera on Booking.com.

By rail, you'll typically connect via Bari and then continue toward Matera (often involving a regional transfer), after which you can reach the historic center on foot or by local transport. Use Omnio to easily compare schedules, book train tickets, and find the best prices all in one place for a hassle-free journey across Italy.

If you’re driving, aim for parking outside the oldest Sassi lanes and finish the last stretch on foot, since the Civita/Sassi streets can be steep, stepped, and limited for vehicles. If you are looking to rent a car in Italy I recommend having a look at Discover Cars, first, as they compare prices and review multiple car rental agencies for you.

Practical Tips on Visiting the Casa Noha

  • Official website: https://fondoambiente.it/casa-noha-eng
  • Entrance fee: Adults: €7; Reduced (6–18): €3; Students (up to 25): €5; Family (2 adults + 2 children): €18; Under 6: free.
  • Opening hours: Thursday – Tuesday: 10:00–17:00. Closed on Wednesday.
  • Best time to visit: Go early in the day to avoid heat on the stone stairways and to keep the rest of your Sassi walk unhurried.
  • How long to spend: Plan about 45 minutes total, including the film and a few minutes to look around the house.
  • Accessibility: Expect challenging access for anyone with reduced mobility due to steps and uneven stone surfaces in the surrounding lanes.
  • Facilities: Keep expectations modest; this is a compact house-museum, so plan café stops and longer breaks elsewhere in the Sassi.

Where to Stay Close to the Casa Noha

Base yourself in the Sassi/Civita area if you want to walk everywhere and experience Matera at its most atmospheric, especially at sunrise and after day-trippers leave.

Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa A standout for travelers who want a true cave-setting stay with a high-comfort finish; it's ideal if Casa Noha is part of a short, premium Matera itinerary.

Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita One of Matera’s most iconic stays, chosen for its immersive design and location that makes early-morning Sassi walks feel private and cinematic.

Palazzo Gattini Luxury Hotel A great pick near the Cathedral for a more classic “palazzo” feel while still being steps from Casa Noha and the Civita lanes.

Hotel San Giorgio Included for travelers who want a comfortable, well-located base with easy access to both Sasso Barisano and the Civita area.

Locanda di San Martino A strong mid-range choice with a distinctive Matera character, good for couples and first-timers who want to stay inside the historic fabric without going ultra-luxury.

Is the Casa Noha Worth Visiting?

Yes, especially if it's your first time in Matera. Casa Noha delivers fast, clear context that makes the Sassi feel less like a maze of pretty stone and more like a place with a complex human story—exactly what you want before you start exploring viewpoints, cave homes, and rupestrian churches.

Honest Pivot: if you dislike short films, prefer object-heavy museums, or you're already deeply read up on Matera's history, you may find Casa Noha lighter than expected. In that case, prioritize a furnished cave house, a rupestrian church, or a longer guided walk that focuses on architecture and daily life details.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

4.6 (1,425)

Google reviewers are very positive overall, often calling Casa Noha an excellent introduction to Matera. Common highlights include the engaging multimedia film (with helpful English options), friendly staff, and how well it explains the history of the Sassi in a short visit. The most frequent drawbacks are that it can be hard to locate in the maze-like lanes and that visitors expecting a traditional exhibit-heavy museum may find it more film-focused than anticipated.

Nemes Benedek István
10 months ago
"The house is really hard to find. We had been searching for an hour to find it. And in the burning sun it was quite an experience. But our strugglewas worth it. The staff were amazing, they were nice, friendly. And they spoke English very well (from experience during my stay, we struggled because of language barrier in many places so it was a happy relief :) ). The Casa Noha isn’t a big sight because of its look. You watch 4 videos in 3 rooms and they have an authentic kitchen in the 4th room. The videos are very interesting. I found them one of the best informative videos I have ever watched. The narrative is understandable, and helpful to understand how the people of Matera have lived. I think all of us came out satisfied, and with more knowledge than before. I recommend it before visiting the whole town. It gives you another perspective than just walking around in the city of ruins...."
Roy Berry
5 months ago
"Really good museum with movie in English via headphones. Excellent insight into the whole history of Matera. If you have English National Trust cardswith you it’s free!..."
Lu velkova
2 months ago
"Very useful information with the projection if you haven't read any information previously online. I highly recommend it, since it shows the realhistory of the Sassi..."

For Different Travelers

Casa Noha works best as a “primer” attraction: it's compact, information-rich, and easy to slot into a day that's otherwise spent walking. Think of it as the orientation room that upgrades everything you see afterward.

Families with Kids

Kids who enjoy visuals and storytelling often do well here because the experience is film-led rather than text-heavy. It can also reduce complaints later by helping them understand why there are so many stairs, caves, and winding lanes.

To keep it smooth, pair Casa Noha with one hands-on or “wow” stop afterward, like a cave house with furnishings or a viewpoint over the ravine. That one-two combo balances learning with a memorable photo moment.

Couples & Romantic Getaways

For couples, Casa Noha is a smart first stop before a slow wander through the Civita and down into the Sassi at golden hour. The film adds emotional weight to the scenery, which makes the walk feel more meaningful than just “pretty streets.”

Afterward, plan a route that ends at a panoramic terrace or a candlelit dinner spot in the Sassi. Casa Noha’s short format leaves plenty of time for lingering.

Budget Travelers

Casa Noha is good value because it delivers a lot of context quickly, which can reduce the need for multiple paid attractions just to “figure Matera out.” If you're choosing only one indoor ticketed stop, this is a strong candidate.

Budget tip: use it to plan a self-guided route through the Sassi and to the best viewpoints, then spend your money on one additional highlight (like a cave house or a rupestrian church) rather than stacking similar experiences.

History Buffs

History-focused travelers will appreciate how Casa Noha frames Matera as a layered settlement rather than a single-era monument. It's particularly helpful for understanding the social history of the Sassi and how the city's identity changed over time.

To go deeper, follow Casa Noha with a guided walk that focuses on water systems, cave architecture, and the relationship between the Sassi and the Murgia landscape. The film gives you the timeline; the walk gives you the texture.

FAQs for Visiting Casa Noha

Getting There

It can be tricky because the lanes are narrow and stepped, and GPS can be unreliable in the stone alleys. Give yourself extra time and navigate toward the Cathedral/Civita area first.
Usually you’ll be dropped at a nearby access point and walk the final stretch. Expect stairs and uneven paving in the last approach.
Yes, it’s one of the easiest attractions to fit into a tight schedule. It works best as your first stop before a longer Sassi walk.

Tickets & Entry

Booking ahead is helpful in busy periods, but many travelers can still visit without long planning. If you’re visiting on a weekend or holiday, pre-booking reduces friction.
Yes, there are reduced tickets for youth and students, plus a family option. If you qualify for free entry categories, bring documentation.
No, the standard entry is for the film experience and house visit. Guided Sassi tours are typically a separate product.

Visiting Experience

Not really; it’s primarily a multimedia storytelling experience inside a historic house. If you want rooms filled with objects, pair it with a furnished cave house.
Many visitors report that English support is available for the film experience. If language is a concern, ask staff at entry for the best option.
It’s immersive in a narrative sense rather than a “walk-through-caves” sense. Think context and story first, then exploration outside.

Tours, Context & Itineraries

Casa Noha first is usually better because it explains what you’re about to see. Then head to a viewpoint and descend into the Sassi lanes.
Yes, it’s a natural pairing and a common itinerary structure. Doing the film first helps you follow the guide’s references.
Walk toward the Cathedral area, then choose a descent into either Sasso Barisano or Sasso Caveoso. Add one cave-house visit to round out the day.

Photography

It’s more about the experience than photo ops, but the house’s stone interiors can be atmospheric. Be mindful of other visitors during the film.
Policies can vary, and filming can disturb others. Ask staff on arrival and follow any posted rules.
Head toward the Cathedral area and nearby terraces for classic Sassi panoramas. Sunset and early morning are the most flattering times.

Accessibility & Facilities

Access can be difficult due to steps and the surrounding terrain. If mobility is a concern, contact the site in advance to discuss the best approach.
Facilities are limited in compact historic houses, so it’s wise to plan a café stop nearby. Build in a short break before your longer Sassi walk.
Service animals are typically accommodated, but rules can be specific. Check with staff before entering interior spaces.

Food & Breaks Nearby

Yes, the Civita and Sassi edges have plenty of cafés and small bars within a short walk. It’s easy to plan a coffee stop right after.
After is often better so you can use the film as a springboard to choose a route and a place with a view. In hot weather, a cold drink break immediately after is a good idea.
Yes, but carry a bottle if you’re planning a long walk through the Sassi. The stair-heavy routes can feel more strenuous than the map suggests.

Safety & Timing

Yes, it’s a well-visited part of Matera. The main “risk” is footing on uneven stone and steps.
Morning is best to avoid peak heat reflecting off the stone. Late afternoon is also pleasant if you’re continuing into sunset viewpoints.
Do Casa Noha early, then keep the rest of the day flexible. Matera rewards slow wandering more than checklist sightseeing.

Nearby Attractions to the Casa Noha

  • Matera Cathedral (Duomo): A Romanesque landmark near Casa Noha with great vantage points over the Sassi.
  • Sasso Barisano: One of the two main Sassi districts, packed with carved architecture and atmospheric lanes.
  • Sasso Caveoso: The more dramatic, cave-heavy side of the Sassi, excellent for classic Matera views.
  • MUSMA (Museo della Scultura Contemporanea): A distinctive contemporary sculpture museum set within cave-like spaces.
  • Belvedere viewpoints over the Gravina: Panoramic lookouts that frame the Sassi against the ravine and Murgia landscape.

The Casa Noha appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Matera!

Moira & Andy
Moira & Andy

Hey! We're Moira & Andy. From hiking the Camino to trips around Europe in Bert our campervan — we've been traveling together since retirement in 2020!

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Planning Your Visit

Hours:

Thursday - Tuesday: 10:00-17:00.

Closed on Wednesday.

Price:

Adults: €7; Reduced (6-18): €3; Students (up to 25): €5; Family (2 adults + 2 children): €18; Under 6: free.

Address: Recinto Cavone, 9, 75100 Matera MT, Italy
Matera: 1 km
Telephone: +39 0835 335452
Official Website

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