[1] The older reference to the name "Barona" is from a 973 document, now preserved in the Curia Arcivescovile di Milano archives, where the place is mentioned as Vicus Baronis, i.e., "town of the Baron".

[2] The district benefits several public transportation services, including two stops of the Milan Metro subway, tramways, and buses, connecting it to the city centre.

Barona houses one of the leading hospitals of Milan, Ospedale San Paolo, as well as branches of three universities, the Università degli Studi di Milano (faculty of Medicine), IULM and NABA (academy of arts).

In the southern part of the district, that is partially included in the Parco Agricolo Sud Milano reserve, there are several notable cascine (ancient farmhouses), some of which date back to the 17th century.

The 2003 independent Italian movie Fame chimica is set in Barona, although some scenes have been shot in other peripheral districts of Milan, such as Quarto Oggiaro and Bonola.