August 3rd 1667: Death of the Baroque architect Francesco Borromini, who is interred in the church of San Giovanni dei Fiorentini.
August 6th 1623: Election of Pope Urban VIII (r. 1623-44). 1697: Birth of the architect Nicola Salvi (d. 1751), most famous for his design of the Trevi Fountain. 1978: Death of Pope Paul VI (r. 1963-78).
August 11th 1492: Election of Cardinal Rodrigo de Borja as Pope Alexander VI (r. 1492-1503). 1614: Death of the painter Lavinia Fontana (b. 1552), who is buried in the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva.
August 12th 1484: Death of Pope Sixtus IV (r. 1471-84), who built the Sistine Chapel.
August 15th 1483: Pope Sixtus IV (r. 1471-84) consecrated the Cappella Sistina, dedicating the chapel to the Madonna of the Assumption.
August 17th 1740: Election of Pope Benedict XIV (r. 1740-58).
August 18th 1503: Death of Pope Alexander VI (r. 1492-1503), who was a member of the infamous Borgia family. 1559: Death of Pope Paul IV (r. 1555-59), who created the Jewish Ghetto in Rome. Paul IV is buried in the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva.
August 19th 1458: Election of Pope Pius II (r. 1458-64).
August 20th 1561: Birth of the composer Jacopo Peri (d. 1633), who is often called the inventor of opera. 1823: Death of Pope Pius VII (r. 1800-23). 1914: Death of Pope Pius X (r. 1903-14).
August 25th 1960: Opening of the Summer Olympics.
August 26th 1978: Election of Pope John Paul I, who only reigned 33 days. August 27th 1590: Death of Pope Sixtus V (r. 1585-90), who is interred in the Cappella Sistina, in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore.
August 29th 1484: Election of Pope Innocent VIII (r. 1484-92). 1629: Death of the sculptor Pietro Bernini (b. 1562), father of Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680).
August 30th 1464: Election of Pope Paul II (r. 1464-71), the nephew of Pope Eugenius IV (r. 1431-47).