U.S. Travel — So. California
Los Angeles, CA
L.A. Museums
Getty Villa — Malibu

"The beauty one can find in art
is one of the pitifully few real and
lasting products of human endeavor."
- J. Paul Getty

Getty Villa
J. Paul Getty wanted his Villa Museum to be a piece of art in itself — and a piece of art it is! Located on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, the Getty Villa is modeled after a luxurious first-century Roman country house — the Villa dei Papiri in Herculaneum, Italy, which was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.

Getty Villa's Roman-inspired architecture and gardens gives visitors the feeling of what a Roman villa was like 2,000 years ago.

At first glance, it's hard to believe you're not in ancient Rome — inside and out, the Villa and its lush landscaping and gardens are absolutely stunning, especially on a sunny day.

The J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Villa houses 44,000 works of art from the Museum's extensive collection of Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities — 1,200 works are on view in 23 galleries. In addition to the museum's permanent collection, there are also six additional galleries for changing exhibits.

As you tour The Getty Villa, you'll notice that you're constantly moving between indoor and outdoor spaces (similar to its sister museum, The Getty Center).

Inside, galleries filled with natural light, are arranged by themes and include Gods and Goddesses, Dionysos and the Theater, Stories of the Trojan War... and more!

Outside, you'll find Roman-inspired architecture, replicas of bronze sculptures, beautiful fountains, four magnificent gardens (including a Herb Garden) — and a spectacular 220-foot-long reflecting pool.

Complimentary Tours are offered at Getty Villa, including Garden Tours, Architecture Tours, Collection Highlights Tours, Spotlight Talks, Focus Tours... and more.

There's also a 450-seat Outdoor Amphitheater (next to the main entrance), an underground Auditorium, an indoor/outdoor Cafe and a Museum Store.

The Getty Villa, which sits in a narrow canyon, has a completely different feel to its newer sister museum, The Getty Center, which sits on a hilltop in the Santa Monica Mountains (the latter featuring dramatic modern architecture, magnificent gardens and a collection of Western Art).

Both Getty museums are equally spectacular and well worth a visit and both offer free admission — (timed-ticket entry is required for the Getty Villa).

More Info
Getty Villa
310-440-7300

17985 Pacific Coast Highway
Pacific Palisades

Google Map of Getty Villa
Note: Access to Getty Villa entrance is only from the northbound right-hand lane of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH).

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