  I present a selection of results obtained from VLT FORS1 and ISAAC
photometric monitoring of late-type giants in NGC 5128 (=Centaurus A). The
combination of optical and near-IR photometry allows to probe the full
metallicity range of the stars on the upper red giant branch, thanks to
combined low-metallicity sensitivity of the optical and high-metallicity
sensitivity of the near-IR bands. The metallicity distribution covers a wide
range with the mean value around [M/H] ~ -0.45 dex. The near-IR monitoring of
the variable AGB stars allows to gain insights into the age distribution. The
period distribution of these long period variables indicates only about 10%
contribution of the intermediate-age component (age < 5 Gyr) to the
predominantly old stellar halo. Among the brightest, large amplitude and long
period variables only very few have near-IR and optical colors consistent with
carbon-rich giants.
