Getty Villa

The Getty Villa is a museum in the Los Angeles area built as an educational re-creation of a Roman country house and devoted to Greek, Roman and Etruscan antiquities. The complex reproduces architectural and garden features of classical villas to provide context for the ancient collection.

Galleries display sculpture, pottery, jewellery and decorative objects from the ancient Mediterranean, arranged to reflect archaeological and historical themes. The site places emphasis on the relationship between built spaces, gardens and the collections to suggest how objects would have been used and displayed in antiquity.

The villa includes a planted peristyle garden and outdoor spaces that follow classical design principles, supporting interpretation and special events alongside regular exhibitions and educational programmes.

The museum is located in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles, overlooking the coastal bluffs near the Pacific Coast Highway.

• Villa model and collection: Designed as a modern museum modeled on the Roman Villa dei Papiri, concentrating on ancient Mediterranean art and archaeological objects.

What to See #

• Peristyle garden: A reconstructed Roman-style peristyle garden modeled on classical villa gardens, used as a focal point for interpretation and outdoor sculpture.
• Antiquities galleries: Galleries housing Greek, Roman and Etruscan antiquities with archaeological objects and decorative items from the ancient Mediterranean world.
• Terraces and courtyards: Outdoor terraces and exhibition courtyards that replicate aspects of an ancient Roman villa and offer views over the surrounding neighbourhood toward the Pacific.