We discuss the stellar content of the Galactic Center , and in particular , recent estimates of the star formation rate ( SFR ) .
We discuss pros and cons of the different stellar tracers and focus our attention on the SFR based on the three classical Cepheids recently discovered in the Galactic Center .
We also discuss stellar populations in field and cluster stars and present some preliminary results based on near-infrared photometry of a field centered on the young massive cluster Arches .
We also provide a new estimate of the true distance modulus to the Galactic Center and we found 14.49 \pm 0.02 ( standard ) \pm 0.10 ( systematic ) mag ( 7.91 \pm 0.08 \pm 0.40 kpc ) .
Current estimate agrees quite well with similar photometric and kinematic distance determinations available in the literature .
We also discuss the metallicity gradient of the thin disk and the sharp change in the slope when moving across the edge of the inner disk , the Galactic Bar and the Galactic Center .
The difference becomes even more compelling if we take into account that metal abundances are based on young stellar tracers ( classical Cepheids , Red Supergiants , Luminous Blue Variables ) .
Finally , we briefly outline the possible mechanisms that might account for current empirical evidence .