Guide to the Getty Villa: Revised Edition

This revised and updated edition of the Guide to the Getty Villa was published in conjunction with the reinstallation of the Villa collection galleries. It offers an engaging introduction to the Villa’s history as well as an up-to-date look at its gardens, historical rooms, and galleries. It begins with the history of the site, recounting how, as J. Paul Getty’s art collection grew, he decided to house it in a replica of the ancient Roman villa at Herculaneum now known as the Villa dei Papiri. The second chapter chronicles the destruction of Herculaneum in 79 CE during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the Villa dei Papiri’s rediscovery in the eighteenth century, and more recent archaeological discoveries at the site. The third chapter leads readers on a tour of the Getty Villa, from the cobblestone “Roman road” through the outdoor theater, atrium, peristyles, and gardens; it includes detailed descriptions of special rooms such as the Basilica, the Room of Colored Marbles, the Temple of