Get Americas brings you in the footsteps of one of the most influential architects of his era.

Escape for a day in these breathtaking villas and their verdant gardens.

After 12 years of construction – estimated at $ 1 billion – the Getty Center opened at the end of 1997. In total, 6 buildings, designed by architect Richard Meier, are often compared Of Le Corbusier as he likes to play with light and forms, superbly posed on a hill of the Santa Monica Mountains.

This small Italian village in the hills skilfully mixes nature and culture. It consists of different buildings open on terraces and courtyards, whose walls in Italian travertine pleasantly return the light and illuminate the interior as much as the conservation of the works allows it.

Most of the works at the Getty Center come from the collections of Jean Paul Getty, a billionaire who had made a fortune in the exploitation of oil. He has created the giant Getty Oil Company, as well as the J. Paul Getty Trust, the richest cultural and philanthropic institution in the world.

At the death of Jean Paul Getty in 1976, the small villa quickly overflowed with all the posthumous gifts that the patron left behind, and the order to build another building to accommodate them was given almost 10 years later. The Getty Center came out in 1997 and featured only works from the 20th and 21st centuries.

Once you have finished your tour of the buildings, you can stroll through the manicured gardens, maintained with a geometric meticulousness. The 1,2 hectares of floral and natural creations are beautiful, consisting of 500 varieties of plants that merge into the decor with grace, and all promises a splendid view of Los Angeles, the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Mountains .

Be carrefull, one day at the Getty Center is always passing too fast …