Getty Villa

During the 1950s, Forbes Magazine named J. Paul Getty the richest man in America. He was the owner and founder of the Getty Oil Company, which is now under the ownership and management of Lukoil. J. Paul Getty loved to collect different artworks and antiques, and most of his collections can be seen at the Getty Villa.

The Villa is one of two locations of the J. Paul Getty Museum. The other location is in Pacific Palisades, California, where Greek, Roman, and Etruscan artworks and structures can be seen. The museum in Los Angeles, on the other hand, is where visitors can view different artworks from Europe, America, and specific art collections taken from the Getty Research Institute.

Compared to its sister museum, the Getty Villa has adopted a contemporary architectural style. Aside from the museum there are gardens, cafes, a courtyard, and a museum store on the property. The museum restaurant allows visitors to enjoy a full course meal and chat a bit after the day’s activities, or they can buy a gourmet lunch and have a little picnic outside. There are two coffee carts located in the museums courtyard and the Plaza which can provide a quick caffeine fix or snack break.

Nearly every month, new exhibits are displayed in the museum. Some exhibits are displayed for six months, so there is plenty of time to visit the exhibit. Not only are paintings displayed but also sculptures and photographs. Visitors can enter the museum for free, and no advanced reservations are needed. Tourists, student groups, and even entire families are more than welcome to visit the museum.

The museum is easily accessible; the Metro Rapid Line 761 stops directly in front of the main gate. The entire museum is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, and is closed on Mondays and on Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Its operating hours are from 10AM to 5:30 PM from Tuesdays to Sundays, and 10AM to 9PM on Saturdays.