We left Agropoli at 8:00 a.m. on June 7th, 2025 and set off on a cross-country Italian road trip that would take us 532 kilometers north, winding through the heart of Tuscany to reach our secluded villa in Panzano in Chianti by early afternoon. We were behind the wheel of a BMW X4 xDrive 20d, a solid diesel-powered rental from SIXT that did a commendable job on Italy’s varied terrain.

The journey started on the Autostrada, where the X4’s diesel engine and xDrive all-wheel grip made cruising effortless. We averaged 109 km/h (68 mph)and briefly peaked at 194 km/h (121mph) —well within the flow of Italian traffic standards, especially once we hit the wide-open sections. For a rental SUV, it was comfortable and composed, soaking up highway miles with ease. That said, as competent as the BMW was, it simply doesn’t hold a candle to my Papaya Macan S back home in Texas. The Macan has tighter handling, sharper feedback, and a sportier soul—something the X4 just can’t replicate.

But let’s be real: the ideal car for this route would’ve been my Racing Yellow Boxster GTS 4.0 with the top down. That mid-engine layout, naturally aspirated flat-six, and crisp steering were practically made for the kind of driving Tuscany throws at you. And oh, the sound echoing off the stone walls through these villages? Pure symphony.

Once we left the expressway and headed into Chianti, the character of the drive completely changed. The smooth, wide Autostrada gave way to narrow, winding roads barely wide enough for a single car. At times, the pavement shrunk to little more than a ribbon of gravel lined with overgrown hedgerows and sun-dappled forests.

We passed cyclists battling the hills, tractors hauling fresh cut hay, and the occasional local who navigated these roads with a confidence I could only admire. At one point, we crawled behind a cyclist for several kilometers on a road that was simply too tight to pass safely. Not a bad problem, though—those shaded corridors were some of the prettiest parts of the drive.

We also snaked through postcard-perfect villages with stone buildings that seemed to lean into the street. Every turn required precision, every corner a guess at what might be coming next. The BMW’s size made things a little dicey at times, especially squeezing between parked Fiats and café tables, but we made it through unscathed.

Then came the views.

Rolling vineyards, olive groves, bell towers in the distance—Tuscany unfurled like a Renaissance painting in motion. The landscape seemed to shift with every curve, demanding that we stop and soak it in, yet daring us to keep going just to see what was around the next bend.

By the time we arrived at our villa just after 2:00 p.m., we were exhausted, exhilarated, and grinning like kids. The drive had tested our reflexes, rewarded our senses, and reaffirmed that the best parts of a road trip often begin where the highway ends.

If you’re a driving enthusiast, this route is Italy’s version of the Tail of the Dragon—just with more vineyards, better wine, and views that make you forget all about the brake pedal.