The Getty Center
Dramatically implanted into the side of the Santa Monica Mountains in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles majestically stands the J. Paul Getty Museum. Occuyping a vast expanse of grounds, wtih five two story pavillions, the museum maintains a collection of wester art from the Middle Ages all the way to the present. In addition the the museum has breathtaking views of all of Los Angeles, beautiful tranquil gardens and variety of other exhibits that educate and inspire.
Admission to the Getty Center is free, although there is a $15 parking charge. Upon entering the Getty Center at the base of the mountain, you will be greeted by lush, green Roman like Gardens and architecture attached to the main visitor parking structure. It is from here that you will depart the visitor center for the Getty Center via a five minute tram ride. An exciting attraction in its own right, the tram ride at the Getty Center takes a steep ascent along the side of the Santa Monica Mountains (see video here) giving you onubstructed views of the busy 405 below and greater Los Angeles beyond. The tram arrives in the heart of the Getty Center at the top.
Seeing the everything The Getty Center has to offer can easily take the entire day. The Getty Center consists of five two story pavillions constructed around an open courtyard. The Museum hosts exhibits that are both permanent and temporary. Some of the hightlihgts of the Getty's permanent collections include masterpieces such as Cezanne's Young Italian Woman Leaning on Her Elbow and van Gogh's Irisis. In addition there are paintings by Monet and Renoir, Tiepolo, Fragonard. There are also drawings by Michelangelo, Leonardo and Rapheal.The Getty Center also houses one of the world's preeminent collections of housing works and photographs dating back to 1839.
The breathtaking views of all of Los Angeles aside, one of the must see, time investments of a Getty Center visit is the Central Garden. Designed by landscape architect Laurie Olin in collaboration with Ricahrd Meier, the Central Garden is a vast open area that is at the south bottom foot of the museum.The Central Garden is an open area of beautiful lawns, fountains, streams, colorful flowers, trees and plants. Some of the must see features of the Central Garden is the Flowering Maze. Located at a stone waterfall, where wall from a stream winding from the Getty's five pavillions and culminating into the waterfall over a stepped stone wall and into a reflecting pool that is surrounded on all sides by over 400 azalea plants. In the perimeter of this pool area are several specialty gardens that are are strategically planted to take advantage of light, colors and reflection.
To the east of the Central Garden is an area known as Warm and Cool. This is where the South Promontory is located and there is a recreation of a desert landscape. The garden is planted in such a way that the plants are grouped in areas by which are cooler or hotter than the other areas. Through this process there is an array of spectacular colors and blends amongst the different desert plants.