Malibu has some of the most beautiful beaches in Los Angeles and is famous for its 21 miles of breathtaking scenery and views. But the easternmost part is also home to one of the best museums in Los Angeles, a stop I highly recommend: the Getty Villa.
Art and history are combined here with a love of knowledge, the presence of unique archaeological artifacts, and the architectural beauty of the venue that houses them. Add to these ingredients the green gardens and the ocean breeze and a visit to the Getty Villa can only become a memorable experience.
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What is the Getty Villa
The Getty Villa is one of the two centers of the J.Paul Getty Museum. It is actually the original home of Paul Getty’s collection, which in 1997 was then moved to the larger Getty Center, a building costing $1.3 billion that now houses the Getty Museum. Admission is free to both the Getty Museum and the Getty Mansion, so if you are an art lover, you can’t miss a visit to either venue.
The Getty Villa was opened in 1974 next to the Malibu home of tycoon J. Paul Getty. Work actually began in 1954 and was entrusted to architects Robert E. Langdon Jr and Ernest C. Wilson Jr with the supervision of archaeologist Norman Neuerburg. Major modifications were made between 1993 and 2006 by the team of architects Rodolfo Machado and Jorge Silvetti. The fact that these professionals were inspired by the splendid Villa of the Papyri at Herculaneum is self-evident, although there are various details from other archaeological sites inside.
You will find yourself in a true reconstruction of an ancient villa, walking through its gardens and inside the walls where you can admire a vast collection of artifacts from the Greek, Roman, and Etruscan civilizations.
Directions
The Getty Villa is located at 17985 Pacific Coast Highway in the Pacific Palisades north of Santa Monica.
If you are driving, you can park in the museum’s parking lot. The cost is $20 for ticket holders. If you decide to visit both the Getty Villa and the Getty Center on the same day, just ask for a pass and you will only pay once for parking.
There are no parking spaces on the street near the museum, and remember that you can only enter the parking lot coming from the north by turning right off Pacific Coast Highway. The museum specifies that entering from Coastline Drive or, for that matter, walking in (unless you have arrived by public transportation) is prohibited.
This information is very important, especially if you decide to arrive by Uber or Lyft: do not get dropped off outside on the road but go inside and get off in the dedicated area. Same thing for getting picked up: the Uber or Lyft car will have to drive inside the property.
If you are on a bicycle, parking is free. You can leave your bike in the spaces provided at the main entrance.
If you are on a bus, take the 534 line. The Pacific Coast Highway/Coastline Drive stop is in front of the museum entrance.
Read more about it in our insights: Getting around Los Angeles
Tickets and Opening Hours
The Getty Villa is a museum with free admission, but reservations are appreciated.
The museum is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. The closing day is Tuesday. You can download a free app, the GettyGuide App, an audio guide that will allow you to visit both the Getty Center and the Getty Villa on your own. Remember your earbuds and maybe download the app before you get to the museum.
Getty Villa Museum Art Collection
As mentioned above, the Getty Villa is a stunning reconstruction of an ancient Roman villa, the Villa of the Papyri at Herculaneum. As you enter, you will admire the Entry Pavilion, an open-air pavilion with a viewing path that takes you to the heart of the museum. The galleries are located on the first and second floors: the second floor has exhibits related to Ancient Greece and the Etruscans, while the second floor displays pieces from Roman civilization. The extensive gardens filled with carefully selected plants and shrubs and the 450-seat Barbara and Lawrence Fleischman Theater amphitheater are an integral part of the villa.
And after admiring the aesthetics of the mansion, discover the more than 44,000 archaeological artifacts from Etruscan, Roman and Greek cultures in the museum’s galleries. The artifacts date from 6500 B.C. to 450 A.D. In addition to coins and kitchen utensils of rare beauty, you will be able to admire some unique pieces such as, for example, a life-size Greek bronze statue, a Roman marble sculpture from 125 A.D., and a kouros, a Greek sculpture that, according to museum curators, dates back to 530 B.C.
The latter statue became famous by creating a veritable“Getty Kouros case.” The statue was immediately declared a fake by art historian Federico Zeri, who worked for the museum in the 1980s, a time when it was offered for purchase by the museum. The original price dropped from 32 billion liras to 20 and then to 12. The museum decided to purchase it despite Zeri’s opposition. Zeri was even forced to leave the United States because of the threats he received. It sounds like a detective novel and yet sometimes reality surpasses fantasy! Needless to add, Zeri was later proven right.
As you may have guessed, if you are drawing up your program choosing from among the many attractions in Los Angeles, the Getty Villa definitely deserves a chance!
Where to Stay in the Area
If you love beaches and the sea, Malibu is the neighborhood for you. However, prices are not always affordable so check out our article on where to stay in Los Angeles before making your choice.
