  We have carried out a big FLAMES survey of 10 Galactic open clusters aiming
at different goals. One of them is the determination of chemical abundances, in
order to put constraints on the radial metallicity gradient in the disk and its
evolution. One of the sample clusters is the very metal rich NGC 6253. We have
obtained UVES high resolution spectra of seven candidate cluster members (from
the turn off up to the red clump) with the goal of determining the chemical
composition of NGC 6253 and to investigate its origin and role in the
interpretation of the radial metallicity gradient in the disk. Equivalent width
analysis and spectral synthesis were performed using MOOG and Kurucz model
atmospheres. We derived abundances of Fe, alpha- and Fe-peak elements, the
light element Na and the s-process element Ba. Excluding two likely non-members
and the clump giant, whose metallicity from equivalent widths is overestimated,
we find an average [Fe/H]=+0.36+/-0.07 (rms) for the cluster. For most of the
other elements we derive solar abundance ratios.
