The construction of large interferometers for gravitational wave detection is now in progress in Europe and in the United States. To stimulate theoretical and experimental work a conference was organised in Cascina (Italy), where the Virgo interferometer is being built. Review talks discussed the expected signals, covering general relativity and astrophysical aspects (binary coalescence, supernovae, neutron stars, cosmological background). Experimental talks gave the current status of the running experiments (resonant bars, prototype interferometers, satellite tracking) and of the planned ones (large interferometers, ultra cryogenic resonating bars and spheres, space missions).