Getty Villa Reopens After 13 Months

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA — Over 13 months after sadly closing their doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Getty Villa welcomed guests back to their museum and gardens on Wednesday. The Villa is open from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. everyday except Tuesday, and implemented safety measures such as temperature checks, masks and pre-packaged meals.

Reservations opened for members and the general public last week, and are required ahead of arrival to monitor capacity.

“The Getty Villa is one of the most unique experiences of any art museum, and we are delighted to be able to welcome visitors once again after more than a year’s closure," Getty leaders said in a statement. "And never have we had a more enticing combination of displays for them to enjoy. As well as our collections of ancient Greek and Roman art, we are now able to present the most important exhibition of Mesopotamian art ever seen on the West Coast, on loan from the incomparable collections of the Musée du Louvre in Paris."

The Getty Villa celebrated their reopening with a special exhibition on Mesopotamia, which was set to open in March 2020 before the pandemic forced the Getty to close. The exhibit will focus on the time period between 3200 B.C. and 331 B.C., which was home to the Sumerians, Babylonians and Assyrians.

"Mesopotamia—the land "between the rivers" in modern-day Iraq—was home to the ancient Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians," the Getty said. "Among their many achievements are the creation of the earliest known script (cuneiform), the formation of the first cities, the development of advanced astronomical and mathematical knowledge, and spectacular artistic and literary accomplishments."

The exhibit will be on display until August 16.

A reopening date for the larger Getty Center in Brentwood has yet to be announced, but the Getty hinted the museum could return in late May. Timed reservations will be in effect, and capacity will be limited to 50% as long as the county remains in the Orange tier of coronavirus restrictions.

READ MORE: Japan House Reopens In Hollywood With Nature/Supernature Gallery