  We present BeppoSAX results on the nearby starburst galaxy NGC 253. Although
extended, a large fraction of the X-ray emission comes from the nuclear region.
Preliminary analysis of the LECS/MECS/PDS ~0.2-60 keV data from the central 4'
region indicates that the continuum is well fitted by two thermal models: a
``soft'' component with kT ~ 0.9 keV, and a ``hard'' component with kT ~ 6 keV
absorbed by a column density of ~ 1.2 x10**22 cm-2. For the first time in this
object, the Fe K line at 6.7 keV is detected, with an equivalent width of ~ 300
eV. This detection, together with the shape of the 2--60 keV continuum, implies
that most of the hard X-ray emission is thermal in origin, and constrains the
iron abundances of this component to be ~0.25 of solar. Other lines clearly
detected are Si, S and Fe L/Ne, in agreement with previous ASCA results. We
discuss our results in the context of the starburst-driven galactic superwind
model.
