In the late 9th century, a fortified settlement developed around the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls: the village took the name of Giovannipoli after Pope John VIII, who built it for defense purposes after a Saracen raid.

It began to sprawl in 1907, after the mayor Ernesto Nathan promoted the creation of an industrial area[2] at the beginning of the Via Ostiense; then, after the 1909 town plan was approved, a fluvial harbour, the Mercati Generali, a prominent gasometer and the Centrale Montemartini (a former power station now housing part of the Capitoline Museum's collection of classical sculpture) were built.

It is the city's main hub and home to Italian food market chain Eataly, world's biggest store.

[citation needed] The territory of the quarter includes the urban zone 11A Ostiense of the Municipio VIII.

Southward, Ostiense borders with Quartiere Europa (Q. XXXII), from which is separated by Via delle Tre Fontane and by the Magliana Viaduct.