COVID-19 NOTE: Due to the virus, Los Angeles is in lockdown and all museums are closed until further notice.
The Getty Villa in Malibu is like stepping back in time. WAAAY back in time. It is a recreation of a first-century Roman country house that had been buried in Herculaneum by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. The setting is gorgeous, high on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
The collection has Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities, well-explained and beautifully-displayed. Some go back to the Neolithic Age. I am always amazed at how the most ancient pieces look the most modern, with their clean, simple lines! Roman offerings include sculpture, jewelry, glassware, mummy portraits, and works of art from all over the Empire.
Palmyra: Loss and Remembrance – on until May 27, 2019. Palmyra was an ancient Syrian caravan city sitting at the crossroads between the Roman and the Parthian empires. This special exhibit focuses on their distinctive funerary portraits and sculpture.
The cafe has both indoor and outdoor seating and serves Mediterranean-inspired food, along with beer & wine. And the museum shop holds many a wonder!
The Getty Villa is a great place to take the kids too! The Family Forum focuses on ancient Greek vases with lots of things to touch and experience. Makes me wish I was a kid again!
Get your free-but-necessary timed ticket here: http://www.getty.edu/visit/villa/plan/hours.html
Parking costs $20 – however, if you visit both the Villa and the Getty Center in the same day, you’ll only have to pay once.
