It takes its name from the small medieval village of Cesano di Roma, on the Via Cassia, which is located within the Municipio XV, 27 km from Rome proper.

It was a frazione of Campagnano di Roma until 1923, when at the request of the locals it was annexed to Rome (R.D.

Cesano is home to the Infantry School of the Italian Army and of the Casaccia Research Center of ENEA.

To the south, the zone borders with Zona La Storta (Z. LI), from which is separated by the Rio Galeria and by Via di Baccanello, up to Via Cassia.

While odonyms of the old village refer to local history, surrounding streets and squares are generally named after valorous partisans, war heroes and recipients of the Gold Medal of Military Valour.