The Getty Villa

Overview

The Getty Villa is a lovingly recreated ancient Roman villa in Malibu housing an extraordinary collection of Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities in one of the most beautiful museum settings in America.

Highlights

• Modeled on Herculaneum: The villa is based on the Villa dei Papiri buried by Vesuvius in 79 AD.
• Antiquities Collection: 44,000 objects spanning 6,500 years of Mediterranean history.
• Gardens: Magnificent Roman-style gardens with reflecting pools and Mediterranean plants.

History

J. Paul Getty built the original villa in 1974 to house his growing antiquities collection. After the Getty Center opened in 1997, the villa was renovated to focus exclusively on the ancient world.

Visitor Tips

• Free Admission: Always free, but parking reservation ($20) required.
• PCH Location: Located on Pacific Coast Highway — combine with a Malibu drive.
• Duration: 2 hours.