The Getty

The cable-pulled tram that lifts you from the Sepulveda Pass to the summit is the formal threshold of the Getty Center, effectively sealing the campus off from the rest of Los Angeles. At the top, the constant hum of the 405 freeway fades, replaced by the sound of fountains and the glare of Italian travertine. Architect Richard Meier designed the complex as a strict grid of stone and glass, organizing the museum, research institute, and conservation center along two natural ridges of the Santa Monica Mountains. It is a sprawling, sun-drenched campus where the outdoor courtyards and terraces often hold as much attention as the galleries themselves. Inside the pavilions, the collection focuses heavily on pre-20th-century European art. You will find French decorative arts, illuminated manuscripts, and major canvases like Van Gogh’s *Irises*, alongside a massive photography collection that spans from the 19th century to the present. The galleries rely on a system of computer-controlled louvers to filter natural light, keeping the interior spaces airy even when the rooms are full. Outside, the Central Garden – designed by artist Robert Irwin – draws people down a winding path into a ravine filled with plants and a central stream. It is common to see visitors lingering here or leaning over the terrace railings to look out at the Pacific Ocean and the downtown skyline. Admission to the center is free, though you pay for parking and typically need a timed reservation to board the tram.