We visit this area of the country once or twice and year, and after quite a few years, finally made time to visit the Getty Villa. It was worth the wait. The architecture was amazing - just beautiful. What is also amazing is how one man collected this vast amount of art and antiquities. This is not just a regular art museum; it is so much more. No one would likely get bored here since the different collections are so utterly unique. We loved seeing it all. Also, we had a nice lunch at the cafe. You need to make a reservation for the time frame you wish to visit. Although the museum is free, technically the cost is $15.00,which is for parking.
If you love antiquities like I do then you will love this place. You will love this place regardless. Walk around the museum then stop and have lunch or wine. Beautiful spot and serene.
We had an amazing docent . She was charming , knowledgeable and full of rich stories on Mr.Getty himself. The physical structure is just stunning as were the grounds. He clearly was a perfectionist and it shows. The area itself Malubu is truly beautiful! We dined the food was fabulous! We shared a bottle of prose I. I love the gift shop. I usually buy a keepsake everywhere I go. I left with a beautiful authentic cameo ring which I now cherish. I think this is certainly a must do for history buffs or even people just intersted in architecture!
Irony is not dead. The best preserved Greek temples in the world are not in Greece, but rather in Italy at Paestum, and in Sicily. Also, the most authentic and complete recreation of a mega-rich Roman's country house and garden is nowhere to be found in Italy. Rather, it was built by a mega-rich American in Malibu.J. Paul Getty was preoccupied, if not obsessed, with Classical Greece and Rome, and in 1974 opened the Getty Villa, a museum dedicated to classical Greek and Roman art, which is set in a wonderfully recreated Roman country house based on a villa near Pompeii. This villa is still mostly underground, but Getty mapped it out and recreated it just off the Pacific Coast Highway on the way north out of Santa Monica. It is unique. It is wonderful.The art collection, though not overwhelming in size, is wonderful. The four gardens demonstrate thoroughly how much the Romans valued and how they used their outdoor space. Stone pines, better known as "umbrella" pines, were imported from Italy and planted around the rim of the canyon in which the villa is set. The food, Mediterranean in character, is alone worth the trip. The gift store is full of high-quality merchandise inspired by the museum.This is a place to spend a day. You'll pay $15 to park your car, but nothing else to get into the museum or grounds. After the first half-hour, you'll forget you're anywhere near Los Angeles. I live in Los Angeles, so for me, that is a good thing.
The Getty Villa is truly a gem. It's located near the water, on the road leading to Malibu. It was easy to find by car. I believe you need to make a timed reservation in advance so check the website carefully. Other than paying for parking, visiting the villa is free the enter. The architecture and gardens are really lovely and you'll want to spend some time outside so make sure to go on a sunny day (which usually isn't a problem in LA/Malibu). The collections focus primarily on antiquities (ancient Greek and Roman, etc.) and they do get some lovely temporary exhibitions. What I like is that the collection isn't overwhelming. It is very possible to visit the whole collection in a couple of hours, with some breaks in between to roam the gardens. There is also a lovely amphitheater outside, and I think they put on theatrical productions there -- I would love to see that. Oh, and the views from the villa toward the water and surrounding scenery is really lovely! Lots of opportunities for Kodak moments. Overall I really enjoyed the day I spend there and if you like doing something educational that allows you to walk outside in nice weather then you will enjoy this as well.
Beautiful Italian villa with precious works of art. The gardens are special. Take as many of the free tours as possible. Lots of great pottery and mosiacs here. Spend about 2-3 hours and then head to the Getty Center for the rest of the day. If you get your parking validated, the fee covers both attractions. I love it here.
Like the Getty Center, the Villa entrance is free, but you pay $15 for parking. The Villa plan is based on an ancient one located on the Bay of Naples. It is a delightful environment to showcase the Roman, Etruscan and Greek antiquities.. Also, like the Getty Center, art conservation is an important part of the activities of the Getty Trust. Good news for some - the collection is very big. I started to overdose on all the detail, however, so that's when we took an outdoor break in either the atrium or the lovely gardens! We took the garden tour they offered and it was entertaining and educational. There was a nice list of tours everyday. The cafe was good place for lunch. If you are in the area -- visit.
The view from the top is breathtaking. Wish this villa was my own.Easy to get to and located in beautiful Malibu. You must visit here.
This place is the definition of amazing. I absolutely love how the museum is set in a house, making it feel more welcoming somehow. The architecture is beautiful, with a lot of water fountains, pools, flowers, garden statues, pillars, and balconies. It is peaceful, so you can just sit on one of the chairs and look into the beautiful garden while thinking about life (this is what I did, actually).The number of displays in the villa is fewer than the Getty Center, but it is still very interesting to look at. I like the ancient coin collections very much.
Everything about this location is amazing. Let's start with one minor detail entrance and entry fee. Walk-ins, unless you are a Malibu resident are a no-no. While there is no fee to enter the Villa there is a $15 parking fee, so load up the car. The Villa is a to scale recreation of a Roman Villa. There are countless, well at least it seemed that way, pieces of art ranging from paintings to statues to frescos on the walls. The restaurant was delicious. You order from a counter, but then find a table (inside or outside) and your food is delivered to you. Our table ordered a few items, but the most liked was the peasant bread (ours had a pear and pomegranate compote on the side). The view around the entire property was amazing. There was the ocean and the rolling hills behind. There are a few free guided tours, we went on the docent tour at 2pm. This tour was for the docents to practice different ideas. Our guide was working on animals and walked us around showing different animals and how they interacted with the people. The herb garden was outstanding. Many of the trees were beginning to sprout leaves after the cool winter. The fountain garden on the opposite side was quiet and tranquil. There was a lot to see at the Villa, I'd suggest spending at least a solid four hours or more there to be able to see most of the art and attractions.