The Getty

The Getty - the most important information

The Getty, officially known as J. Paul Getty Museum, is one of the most remarkable museums in the world. It is a truly must-see attraction for every tourist that visits Los Angeles. This place is home to more than 44.000 pieces of art that are of huge value to humankind.

About the Getty

In 1954, a wealthy industrialist named Jean-Paul Getty had the idea of building a large museum on his Malibu ranch, with a whole new wing dedicated to art. He moved the museum to an Italian home over 20 years later, in 1974, but most of the work ended up at the Getty Center in Los Angeles. Even though some of the pieces remain in his Malibu villa, practically the whole exhibition was relocated here. Getty is an antiquities museum with artifacts dating back over 6,000 years. The museum displays numerous well-known 20th-century works of art and all other sorts of art, from sculpture and drawings to photographs and manuscripts. Except for exhibitions, the museum organizes lectures, lessons, and different cultural events.

What to see at the Getty?

Some of the most precious pieces of art in the world are displayed in the Getty museum. Here are just some of the collections and artworks you should not miss seeing.

Irises by Van Gogh - This is a well-known piece of art of a renowned painter. Van Gogh still represents the most significant painter of Postimpressionism, and his painting Irises is one of the most famous depictions of this flower.
Rembrandt Laughing by Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn - During his life, Rembrandt made around a hundred self-portraits, and one of them is located in the Getty. You will recognize the painting easily. It depicts the painter in his very youth, smiling while posing in his armor.
Outdoor sculptures - There are 28 of them in the museum's gardens. They were donated by the film producer Ray Stark and his wife, Fran. They are all made in different styles, but the one that maybe catches the eye the most is Cardinale Seduto, a sculpture by Giacomo Manzù.
Center for Photographs - The Center for Photographs, located in the West Pavilion, offers a diverse collection of photographs ranging from the very first ones ever made to the most recent.
Central Garden - Full of flowers, trees, and other plants, this place designed by artist Robert Irwin is a perfect place for taking a break from the long tour through the museum.

Tickets and opening hours of the Getty

Opening hours - The Getty Center is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday. On Mondays, it is closed.
Ticket price - The good news is admission to the museum is free. However, keep in mind that parking costs $15.

How to get to the Getty?

The Getty Center is located in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, so you'll need a longer ride to get to it.

By bus - If you are trying to get to the Getty from the Hollywood Walk of Fame, you need to take bus 2/302, take off on the Hilgard SB & Westholme FS station, and then wait for bus 671. After that, a 10-minute walk will take you to your destination. The whole ride is a bit longer, you'll need around 1 hour to get to the Getty, but it's worth it.

The Getty trivia

Some of the facts surrounding this historical location will undoubtedly be fascinating, as they feature controversies and interesting stories regarding some of the artworks on display.

Museum had to return some of the pieces of art to Greece and Italy since they were proven to be stolen before the purchase.
Getty is dedicated to research and publication, and its large library contains more than 1 million books, articles, and other publications.
The famous painting, Irises, is considered one of the most expensive pieces of art in the world.
Besides people who work there, goats take care of the gardens, since they are free to eat the bushes and grass inside the center's property.
Many museum works of art are digitalized, so you can see them on YouTube if you don't have the chance to admire them in person.