Part III Wednesday 15 July 14:05-14:20 GIANO: a bifront infrared spectrometer highly optimized both for low and high spectral resolution (TNG) Riccardo Claudi (INAF Padova, Italy) GIANO is the high resolution near IR spectrograph at the 3.58 m Telescopio Nazionale Galileo in La Palma (Spain). GIANO is the first worldwide instrument providing cross-dispersed echelle spectroscopy at a resolution of 50,000 over the 0.95-2.45 mum spectral range in a single exposure. The instrument includes a fully cryogenic spectrograph and an innovative fiber system transmitting out to the K band. It also represents a formidable laboratory to test performances and prototype solutions for the next generation of high resolution near IR spectrographs at the ELTs. First results from sky tests at the telescope and science verification occurred between July 2012 and October 2013.