Getty Center

Oil magnate J. Paul Getty’s priceless art collection is housed in this postmodern landmark in the Santa Monica hills. Behind the striking façade of Italian marble lies a remarkably comprehensive assembly of art and antiquities from the four corners of the world, personally amassed by the late billionaire.New works are frequently being added to the original collection of pre-20th-century European paintings, sculpture, drawings, and illuminated manuscripts, 19th and 20th-century photography from America and Europe, French furniture and decorative arts. Vincent van Gogh’s Irises and impressionist masterpieces by Monet and Gauguin are among the most notable exhibits.Five galleries are arranged around a central courtyard and sculptures are displayed in the surrounding terraces and gardens. The central garden designed by artist Robert Irwin features tree-lined walkways and more than 500 varieties of plants, as well as a soothing reflecting pool encompassed by azaleas arranged in a quirky maze. Irwin called his creation “a sculpture in the form of a garden, which aims to be art”.The architecture by Richard Meier is as impressive as the art it contains. The campus of striking white pavilions was privately endowed by the Getty Trust and opened to the public in 1997. The design follows the natural ridges of the hillside location, with the galleries forming one axis and the administrative buildings and research centre the other. The views of west Los Angeles from the cactus garden at the site’s southernmost tip are impressive, while the grassed area at the northern tip doubles as a helipad.The museum offers a variety of special events and attractions, including a specially designed activities programme geared towards children and families. Performances, festivals and talks enhance the overall experience for the centre’s 1.3 million annual visitors.The Getty Center is around 12 kilometres from Beverly Hills and admission is free. On-site pay parking is provided.