  The Center of our Galaxy is a peculiar region where a number of crucial
astrophysical phenomena take place, from star formation to SN explosions and
accretion onto a massive black hole. The quest for a massive black hole in the
Galactic Nucleus is of course of particular relevance because, it would be the
closest of such extreme objects, which are now believed to reside in most of
the galactic nuclei of the universe. I will review here the main observational
characteristics of the Galactic Center with particular attention to the the
problem of existence, physical condition and activity of the 3 10E6 Mo black
hole coincident with the compact radio source Sgr A*. I will report historical
and recent results of high energy observations of the central degree of our
Galaxy, along with the specific accretion models proposed to account for the
apparent lack of high energy activity from Sgr A*. The scientific perspectives
of the next X and gamma-ray missions in the domain of the Galactic Center
physics are also mentioned.
