It is named after the "Ghisolfa Bridge" ("Ponte della Ghisolfa") overpass, part of the external Circonvallazione ring road enclosing the centre of Milan.

In turn, the bridge was named after two cascine (farm houses), "Cascina Ghisolfa" and "Cascina Ghisolfetta", that existed in the area before the urbanization of the mid 20th century.

The district is usually considered a symbol of the proletarian Milan, as low-income housing (especially "ALER" buildings) is prevalent.

The anarchist circle of Giuseppe Pinelli and Pietro Valpreda, eponymously called "Circolo Anarchico Ponte della Ghisolfa", had its headquarters in this district.

Several works of Italian writer Giovanni Testori are set in the Ghisolfa district; these include La Gilda del Mac Mahon and Il Ponte della Ghisolfa.