[3] Cernusco sul Naviglio borders, clockwise from north, the municipalities of Carugate, Bussero, Cassina de’ Pecchi, Vignate, Rodano, Pioltello, Vimodrone, Cologno Monzese (all in the Metropolitan City of Milan), and Brugherio (in the province of Monza and Brianza).

The Naviglio della Martesana, an artificial canal built in the 15th century in order to link the Adda river to the city of Milan, is the only significant waterway in the municipality.

Today the burial urn of Caius Asinius features in the municipal coat of arms and a street in the central part of the city is named after him.

In Lombard times the area was at first a feud of Queen Theodelinda; later King Berengar I of Italy gave control of those lands to the bishops of Monza; later it was acquired by the Pieve of Gorgonzola.

In the 19th century, like the rest of Lombardy, the area was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy; around that time the name was changed from Cernusco Asinario to the current form.