Every time I drive down PCH I pass by that beautiful Romanesque villa perched atop a cliff overlooking the Pacific. When I first moved to L.A. I had only known it as my dream home, but soon after I learned it was actually the Getty museum. And just when I was getting around to visiting it, the Villa closed in 1997 for a $275-million renovation/expansion.

Now after nearly 10 years, a new amphitheater, auditorium, and research/conservation facilities later, the Getty Villa reopens on January 28th. Since a majority of work has been moved to the Getty Center off the 405, the “world’s richest museum” exhibits Getty’s collection of about 44,000 Greek, Roman and Etruscan antiquities–fitting for the architecture of the building, almost transporting you to an ancient world.

From LA TIMES Calendarlive.com:

Modeled after the Villa dei Papiri, which was covered in the AD 79 eruption of Mt. Vesuvius and later excavated at Herculaneum, the 1974 replica was built to house Getty’s collection of antiquities, French furniture and Baroque and Renaissance paintings.

But not only is the art the draw but so is the landscape, which rivals the Huntington Library & Gardens in beauty and grandeur. And it’s estimated that the average museum visitor will spend about 3.5 hours perusing everything. That’s all?!

Like the Getty Center, the Villa will feature a wide variety of public programs, including outdoor theater production, musical performances, movie screenings and artist demonstrations.

The museum’s advance, timed tickets are free BUT they are all booked up through July 31st.* Thinking I was slick, I booked up tickets as soon as I heard about the reopening back in October cuz I knew they would be snapped up like hot cakes. However the soonest I could get them for was in April. Oh well, yay! By April, all the flowers will be in bloom and it’ll be gorgeous time to tour my dream garden.

Thursday-Monday
10 am-5 pm

17985 Pacific Coast Highway
Pacific Palisades, California
(310) 440-7300
Parking: $7

*PS: Really weird but I went to the ticketing site to make sure everything was sold out but for some reason opening day had available times! There weren’t any earlier today. So I was able to book 2 more tickets! Anyway, have at it, times from January 28th-30th are still available.