This upcoming Saturday January 25th, SoCal Museums will celebrate the 15th annual museums Free-for-All Day. Over 40 Southern California museums are participating this year, including one of my local favorites, The Getty Villa in Malibu, California.

Inspiration

Located on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Getty Villa is a modern marvel inspired by ancient beauty. Modeled after the Villa dei Papiri, 64 acres have been transformed to reflect one of the most opulent, luxurious seaside villas in the ancient Roman world, which was buried by Mt. Vesuvius in 79AD.

History

J Paul Getty believed in making art accessible to the masses for both education and enjoyment. In 1954, he opened a small museum at his ranch house in Pacific Palisades. As his collection expanded, a second museum was built, and in 1974 the Getty Villa was open to the public.

Renovation

From 1997 until 2006, the Villa underwent a massive $275 million renovation that transformed the former museum into a fully functioning educational center dedicated to the study of the arts. Guests are met with spectacular architecture and landscaping which reflect traditional Roman designs. I’ve even been met by local California mule deer upon entering the grounds.

Galleries

Over 7000 years of art from the Stone Age to the fall of the Roman empire rest here. The museum’s collection includes nearly 44,000 Greek, Roman and Etruscan antiquities. 23 unique dedicated galleries carry constant collections, and 6 galleries show changing exhibits. From sculpture to jewelry, the Villa houses a vast collection of art…over 1,200 artifacts are on display at any given time in the museum’s two-story 48,000 square-foot gallery space.

Herb Garden & East Garden

Beyond the galleries, four wonderful gardens are spread across the museum grounds. Over 300 varieties of plants have been carefully selected to reflect both our local southern California climate and historically accurate gardens from ancient Roman times. The Herb Garden recreates a Roman kitchen garden, planted with fruit trees and shrubs from the Mediterranean. The East Garden has two fountains including one replica from Pompeii covered with shells and theatre masks.

Outer Peristyle

One of the most breathtaking spots at the museum (and my favorite place for sunset) is the largest garden, the Outer Peristyle. This formal garden has a 225 foot long reflecting pool running down the center, an exact replica of the one from the Villa dei Papiri. If you come to this spot first when the museum opens in the morning, you might even get the special treat of having this magical garden to yourself.

Inner Peristyle

The fourth garden is the Inner Peristyle, which is located in the heart of the museum. While smaller than the Outer Peristyle, a marble pool also forms the centerpiece here with bronze statues adorning the edges. The Inner Peristyle offers a quiet intimate experience as you sit surrounded by large Corinthian columns, offering you a taste of ancient Roman life in first century A.D.

Amphitheater

The performer in me loves the outdoor theater. A 450 seat open air Greek amphitheater was designed based on ancient prototypes. Throughout the year, audiences can experience classical dramas and concerts as they would have been originally staged. Whether you enjoy the prefix dinner before the show, or grab wine and a dessert to enjoy in your seat, this is a special place to enjoy performances.

Important facts to keep in mind when visiting:

• The Getty Villa is open from 10am until 5pm six days a week, and is closed on Tuesdays.

• The Villa offers free guided tours and self-guided tours to explore the collections with an iPod touch.

• While museum admission is free, parking costs $20 per vehicle. Timed reservation tickets are required…walk-ins are not allowed.

• If you plan to visit both the Getty Villa and the Getty Center on the same day, you only need to pay for parking once. Simply take your parking receipt to the next location with you.

• The Villa is ADA accessible to all users and offers assisted listening devices for hearing impaired guests.

• Wheelchairs and umbrellas are available on a first-come first-serve basis.

• No outside food or drink is allowed. However, onsite dining options include a café and coffee cart, which are open daily.

• No pets are allowed on the premises.

• Any bags, purses or backpacks larger than 11 x 17 x 8 must be checked at the entrance area.

• Drones, tripods, and monopods are strictly prohibited on the museum grounds.

In Summary & Behind the Blog Video

Thanks for taking a step back in time with me to explore the beautiful Getty Villa museum. For more information, see my behind the blog video below. Wherever you find yourself exploring this week, I hope you find adventure and encouragement.

You might also enjoy:

Featured