NationalGeographicPersonalExplorer

Needing a place to house his extensive Greek and Roman art collections, oil tycoon J. Paul Getty constructed the Getty Villa. Here, you’ll see an exact replica of the Villa of Papyri, the grand home in the Roman city of Herculaneum that was destroyed by the Mount Vesuvius eruption in AD 79. Getty’s original home, nestled into the hills of Pacific Palisades, still sits adjacent to the museum. Twenty five years after its opening, the Getty Villa closed for nearly a decade. After major renovations, the museum was opened once again in January 2006. While there, be sure to save time to wander the Roman-inspired gardens surrounding the magnificent edifice.