Getty Villa

The Getty Villa, located in Pacific Palisades, California, USA, was inspired by the Villa of the Papyri at Herculaneum and incorporates details from several other ancient sites as well.

Many exhibits occupy the various galleries, but the architecture itself is a major part of its appeal.

It would be impossible to do justice to this place with pictures on a blog post, but here are just a few to suggest what awaits visitors.

Neo-Roman Amphitheater

Helical designs adorn these columns

Inner Peristyle

Fountain Pool in Inner Peristyle

Ancient Coin - one among a large collection

Architectural details

Herculaneum Woman, Roman, A.D. 40–60

Outer Peristyle

Emperor Caligula

Cycladic Idol

Column Detail

Pacific Ocean View

Olympic Peninsula

The Olympic Peninsula is a lovely place to explore. Here are just a few pictures from the area, but none can compare to a visit in person.

Paved trail to Dungeness Spit

View toward the west from the land-end of Dungeness Spit

The trail back up

Lobby of the Lake Crescent Lodge

If a tree falls in the forest...

... does it eventually rot?

Sol Duc Falls

Forest trail

Storm King ranger station

Tall trees preside over the trail

Along a forest trail

Undergrowth

Marymere Falls

Through the trees, clouds hug the mountaintops

Rainforest

Lake Crescent through the trees

Lake Crescent - wide angle view

Olympic Mountains

A view from Hurricane Ridge

Snow accumulation at Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center

Olympic Mountains shrouded in clouds

Destruction Island Light Station viewed from Ruby Beach

"Needles" at Ruby Beach

Ruby Beach

A wider view of Ruby Beach

"Big Cedar"

Lake Quinault Lodge

Lake Quinault

Hummingbird at Lake Quinault Lodge