Globular clusters in the near-infrared

The study of Globular Cluster (GC) stellar populations (SPs) addresses fundamental astrophysical questions ranging from stellar structure, evolution and dynamics, to Galaxy formation. Indeed, they represent: i) fossils from the remote and violent epoch of Galaxy formation, ii) test particles for studying Galaxy dynamics and stellar dynamical model, and iii) fiducial templates for studying integrated light from distant stellar systems. In particular, high resolution spectroscopy of GC SPs provides abundance patterns which are crucial for understanding the formation and chemical enrichment time-scale of the host galaxy. Here the major results on Galactic GCs based on high-resolution near-infrared (near-IR) spectroscopy are briefly reviewed. Optical and IR spectroscopy are complementary tools to investigate SPs in different environments, the latter being more suitable in the case of moderately-high extinction regions (A_V≥2) and high metallicity.