Last updated on 15 July 08
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Getty Villa Malibu

5.0/5 (1 ratings)

Photograph © Bikoy
Photograph © 2006 J. Paul Getty Trust
Photograph © 2006 J. Paul Getty Trust
Photograph © 2006 J. Paul Getty Trust
Photograph © Pat Hartley
Photograph © Pat Hartley
Photograph © Pat Hartley

Gardenvisit Editorial

The Peristyle Garden at the Getty Museum is based on an Italian villa garden buried by the erruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD. The garden, which is enclosed by a peristyle with a red tiled roof and frescoed walls, has a central pool and is planted with oleander, myrtle, roses, violets and other Mediterranean plants. It is based on the Villa dei Papiri at Herculaneum. Paul Getty commissioned the design, in 1974, and the architect Norman Neuerburg based on a plan on the best archaeological information available: a plan by Karl Weber. The planting design, unfortunately, was not based on archaeological or even historical information. It was based on the theory that because Re-naissance translates as 're-birth', one can discover the character of Roman gardens by working backwards from Renaissance gardens.

Address - 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, Malibu, California, USA, CA 90265
Opening times - Thursday to Monday. Also open Wednesdays in July. Open 10am to 5pm.
Admission - Free
Website - Visit the Getty Villa Malibu website

Designers and Influences

This garden has been designed and influenced by Emmet L. Wemple

Emmet L. Wemple

Local Hotels

Hotels within 30km as the crow flies from this garden.

Channel Road Inn (4km away)
From $215.00 to $265.00
Oceana Santa Monica (5km away)
From $332.00 to $695.00
Embassy Hotel Apartments (5km away)
From $159.00 to $280.00
Cal Mar Hotel Suites (5km away)
From $144.00 to $254.00
Best Western PLUS Gateway Hotel (6km away)
From $128.79 to $215.10
Holiday Inn Santa Monica Beach - At The Pier (6km away)
From $178.95 to $444.95
Hotel Shangri-La (6km away)
From $213.50 to $695.00
The Georgian Hotel (6km away)
From $225.00 to $355.00

Nearby Gardens

Gardens within 30km as the crow flies from this garden.

Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine (1km away)
(4.0/5)
Getty Center Garden (8km away)
(4.0/5)
Adamson House Garden (8km away)
Mildred E Mathias Garden (9km away)
(4.0/5)
Virginia Robinson Gardens (12km away)
Greystone Mansion and Park (13km away)

Reviews and Comments

Have you visited this garden?

over 3 years ago Pat Hartley said
Splendid site and expansive budget come together in this re-creation of a Roman villa and its gardens. Of course it's beautiful, you could even say stunning. I've always found it ever so slightly silly--it's all based on a villa in Herculaneum, most of which has never been excavated--and in the beginning visitors parked underneath the villa. (Not that the ancient Romans would have had any problem with locating parking under their houses, if needed, but still...) Now there is a parking structure adjacent to the villa. I've always found the food in the cafe tasty.
Note: Admission is free but timed reservations are required. Parking is $15 and street parking is prohibited.

(5.0/5)

See all the reviews of Getty Villa Malibu

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