There is a hidden gem in the hills of Pacific Palisades, just north of Santa Monica. It’s a faithful reproduction of a first century Roman country villa built by J. Paul Getty, a billionaire art collector, to house his collection.
The Getty Villa is the companion museum to the much larger Getty Center located in the Sepulveda Pass between the Westside and The Valley areas of Los Angeles.
The Getty Villa houses only art masterpieces from the ancient Greek, Etruscan and Roman worlds, while later artwork is shown at the main Getty Center. The collection is amazing, filled with priceless bronzes, statues, paintings, pottery, glasswork and even jewelry. To see the intricately crafted gold necklaces worn by ancient Romans, as well as rings and other personal items was truly amazing.
Getty purchased the land in the 1940s and built a traditional ranch house. The ranch house still stands, behind the Villa, and serves as the administrative offices. In the 1950’s Getty filled the ranch house with some of his art treasures and began to open the house to the public to tour the collection.
In the late 1960s Getty was moved by a visit to the ruins of the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, where he visited a 2000 year old villa under excavation. He returned to Los Angeles and began working with an architect to replicate the building he had visited. What was then known as The Getty Museum opened in 1974, sadly Getty had died just prior to the opening and never saw his vision realized. The entire Getty Villa was closed in 1997, coinciding with the opening of the Getty Center and underwent a 10 year renovation, adding many modern features to the surrounding area, for more convenience and guest comfort.
Planning for my visit was easy. I went to the Getty website and easily made reservations (which are necessary) for 1 PM the next day. Keep in mind this was mid-week, not during a holiday. The website also shows a great documentary film about Getty and the making of the Villa. I highly recommend watching it. The film can also be viewed in a small theater next to the museum entrance, where it plays on a constant loop. It tells you the background and history of the museum and collection and was helpful in putting things in perspective.
The museum building was created by Getty to accurately replicate the first century villa. He wanted visitors to feel, see and smell the same thing ancient Romans would have. All the plants are also chosen for accuracy, and there is a wonderful herb garden running the length of the outside courtyard. All the herbs are herbs that would have been grown in ancient Rome.
The museum is really a great way to spend an afternoon, and the sunny location, overlooking the ocean adds to the magic. My favorite were the mummy paintings, painted faces used to cover mummies of Romans who died during the Roman occupation of Egypt. They were extremely realistic and gave you a real sense of the people they represented. Ordinary Romans living 2000 years ago.
My other favorite was the very odd art of the Cycladic period. This pre-dates the Greeks and Romans.. Although older than anything else in the museum, the pieces were perhaps the most modern. They had the feeling of modern art and looked like Picasso cubist figures.
The museum offers many group tours throughout the day. During our visit, there was a Garden Tour, Architecture Tour, Overview Tour and a lecture on Funerary Storage Jars. The museum has a wonderful patio and restaurant with great food and wine too. The renovation added a realistic Roman outdoor amphitheater and various musical and theatrical performances are held there. They also have some special exhibits and programs for children.
Parking reservations are necessary, and parking is $15. per car. The museum does not charge an admission fee. You may take public transportation (bus) but be sure to have the bus driver punch your reservation to prove you took the bus, as they are very strict about parking rules.
The museum is on the spectacular Pacific Coast Highway, about 10 minutes north of Santa Monica, a mile north of the junction with Sunset Blvd. You can only enter from the northbound direction, coming from Santa Monica.
The Getty Villa
17985 Pacific Coast Highway
Pacific Palisades, CA
Open daily 10 AM – 5 PM, closed Tuesdays, reservations required.
(310) 440-7300
getty.edu
Museum timeline dates and details from “History Of The Getty Villa” video at getty.edu
