Obviously, the headline feature of Lexus the LC500 Convertible is the soft top. Needing just 15 seconds to open or close, the top’s silky-smooth operation has been designed for a stylish transition at a moment’s notice. Few other cars could offer such an exotic and evocative way to experience late spring in sun-soaked Italy. But before turning heads in the piazzas and cobbled streets of the towns and villages, it’s time to satisfy some wanderlust by taking this five-liter stallion—capable of producing up to 477 PS metric horsepower—on a gallop through the Alps.

Along the way are dozens of small Italian “bars” (a sort of coffee shop–shot bar fusion)—the perfect excuse for an espresso during a brief intermission in this epic, scenic drive. Many of the hotels and cafés here have “rifugio” in the name, a word that essentially means mountain refuge and that bears witness to a region well used to locking horns with the elements. It’s these little details, just as much as the staggering beauty of the landscape, that offer a deeper understanding of the territory as it flashes past the car window.

In fact, a bird’s-eye view of Italy’s transportation network reveals a stark geometric composition. The A1 autostrada connecting Milan in Lombardy to Bologna in Emilia-Romagna is a prime example, cutting across Northern Italy like an arrow in an almost perfect, straight line. A little beyond Bologna at around 250 km from Milan is Imola, a breeze to reach in the Lexus LC500 Convertible with its superior ride comfort and cruise control. The sensual purring of the naturally aspirated V8 engine and the positivity of the Direct Shift-10AT transmission make for a delightful drive with plenty of punch under the foot.

Reggio Emilia has a history dating back to ancient Roman times. With a population of around 160,000, it is the main municipality in the Reggio Emilia province. Its ultra-modern railway station, Reggio Emilia AV Mediopadana, is the brainchild of Spanish-Swiss architect Santiago Calatrava.

Modena, of course, is known as the home of Ferrari. The eponymous biographical movie about the carmaker’s famous founder Enzo Ferrari brought Modena closer to audiences all over the world, particularly since the city center as depicted in the movie does not appear to have changed much since the 1960s. There’s a relaxed atmosphere that runs through the streets—one that seems at odds with the great racing cars born here, with their exciting aerodynamic prowess and throbbing exhausts.

At the foot of the bridge that links Imola to the circuit, there’s a memorial to Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna who tragically lost his life here. The regular stream of mourners offering flowers and prayers even now, 30 years after his death, is a moving sight.

The 800 or so kilometers of this road trip along the autostrada from the Italian Alps to the iconic Imola Circuit have been an opportunity to live and breathe the long history of this region. The wind that blows through the region is at times solemn yet gentle, at times ferocious and unforgiving. And its influence can be found all around the world—especially in the Lexus cars that zip past you, moving at one with the wind.